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BESIEGED    BY    A    HERD    OF    PECCARIES. 


Page  1 88. 


Sfec^^  '> 


THE 


HUNTER  AND  THE  TRAPPER 

IN   NORTH   AMERICA; 


OR, 


KOMANTIC  ADVENTURES   IN    FIELD   AND   FOREST. 


FROM  THE  FRENCH  OF  BENEDICT  REVOIL.   ' 


BY 

W.  H.  DAVENPORT  ADAMS, 

AUTHOR  OF   "the  FOREST,  THE  JUNGLE,  AND  THE  PRAIRIE,"  "  BURIED 
CITIES  OF  CAMPANIA,"  "  QUEEN   OP  THE  ADRIATIC,"  ETC. 


'"  Hunting  he  loved .... 
It  is  no  gentle  chase, 
But  the  blunt  boar,  rough  bear,  or  lion  proud." 

SHAKESPEARE. 


LONDON: 

T.    NELSON    AND    SONS,    PATERNOSTER    ROW 
EDINBURGH  ;  AND  NEW  YORK. 

1875. 


^r^f  arc. 


HE  volume  now  submitted  to  the  reader  is  a 
translation  from  the  French  of  M.  Benedict 
Revoil,  who  some  years  ago  traversed  many- 
parts  of  the  United  States,  intent  upon  the 
pursuit  of  game.  He  has  recorded  his  experiences  and 
adventures  in  an  unpretending  but  animated  and  enter- 
taining narrative,  which  is  entirely  free  from  exaggeration, 
and  is  commendably  characterized  by  exceeding  modesty 
in  its  references  to  the  writer's  own  achievements. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  about  his  enthusiasm ;  as  little 
about  his  powers  of  endurance.  His  skill,  apparently, 
was  considerable ;  and  if  he  had  a  quick  eye  for  a  victim 
to  his  rifle,  he  had  also  a  keen  perception  of  the  beauties 
of  Nature.  And,  indeed,  if  the  following  pages  contained 
nothing  more  than  a  mere  record  of  the  "  heads  of  game  " 
daily  slaughtered  by  himself,  his  hosts,  and  his  friends, 
they  would  be  of  interest  only  to  a  limited  circle  of 
readers,  and  would  scarcely  have  been  worth  the  trouble 
of  rendering  into  English.  But  M.  R6voil  had  a  faculty 
of  observation  which  makes  his  volume  pleasant  reading, 


VI  PREFACE. 

from   tlie   accurate    sketches    it    contains    of  American 
scenery  under  very  various  aspects. 

And  it  lias  other  merits  :  it  embodies  a  large  number  of 
details  in  reference  to  the  habits  and  characteristics  of  the 
animals  with  which  our  hunter  and  trapper  was.  brought 
into  contact;  so  that  it  may  prove  useful,  either  as  an 
introduction  to  the  study  of  Natural  History,  or  as  a 
companion  and  supplement  to  formal  scientific  treatises. 
We  are  not  without  hope  that  many  young  readers  who 
would  turn  away  from  the  latter  with  '^  cold  indifference '' 
will  peruse  the  story  of  M.  Kevoil's  adventures  with 
breathless  interest,  and  thereby  be  led  to  acquire  a  taste 
for  a  very  agreeable  and  instructive  pursuit,  the  investi- 
gation of  the  Curiosities  of  Animal  Life. 

We  have  only  to  add  that  we  have  allowed  our  hunter 
to  tell  his  tale  in  his  own  way.  We  have  made  no  alte- 
rations except  such  as  were  necessary  to  adapt  the  book 
for  English  readers,  and  have  endeavoured  to  render  the 
original  with  spirit  and  fidelity. 

W.  H.  D.  A. 


i^onitntB 


I.  THE  EAGLE,  ... 

II.  THE  WILD  HORSE, 

III.  THE  TURKEYS, 

IV.  THE  CAYEUTE  ;  OR,  THE  PRAIRIE  WOLF, 
V.  THE  OPOSSUM, 

VL  THE  RACOON, 

VII.  THE  SWAN — THE  HERON— THE  FALCON, 

VIIL  THE  PANTHER, 

IX.  THE  PASSENGER-PIGEONS, 

X.  THE  PRAIRIE  DOGS,       ... 

XI.  THE  WILD  CAT, 

Xn.  THE  WILD  GOATS, 

Xin.  THE  PECCARY, 

XIV.  THE  STAG,       ... 

XV.  THE  ELK, 

XVI.  THE  ELK — Continued^ 

XVII.  THE  CARIBOO,  OR  AMERICAN  REINDEER, 

XVIII.  THE  CARIBOO,  OR  AMERICAN  REINDEER — Continued, 

XIX.  THE  GRISLY  BEAR, 

XX.  THE  BROWN  BEAR, 

XXL  THE  BISON,     ... 


9 

30 

42 

55 

68 

80 

97 

113 

126 

138 

147 

162 

175 

191 

223 

240 

255 

271 

282 

315 

346 


€ 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE    EAGLE, 

LL  honour  to  the  lords  of  earth  ! 

If  I  commence  this  record  of  my  adventures 
as  a  sportsman  with  the  history  of  the  eagle, 
it  is  not  that  I  entertain  the  slightest  respect 
for  this  bird  of  prey, — the  type  of  brutal  force,  of  rapacity, 
of  carnage,  of  selfishness.  But  simply  because  the  eagle, 
once  the  symbol  of  the  imperial  power  of  Rome,  has 
become,  since  the  great  war  of  American  independence, 
the  heraldic  emblem  of  the  vast  republic  of  the  United 
States. 


10  DEPRECIATION"  OF  THE  EAGLE. 

The  illustrious  Franklin,  however,  deplored  the  choice 
made  by  his  colleagues  and  compatriots.  Writing  to  a 
friend  in  1783,  he  declared  that  he  would  have  given  the 
world  the  eagle  had  not  been  selected  as  the  representative 
of  his  country,  for  he  is  a  bird  of  a  fierce  and  shameless 
character,  who  cannot  gain  his  livelihood  honourably. 
He  may  frequently  be  seen,  from  the  top  of  a  decayed 
tree,  carefully  watching  other  rapacious  birds  in  their 
aquatic  depredations,  with  the  view  of  profiting  by  a 
booty  which  he  is  too  slothful  to  gain  through  his  own 
exertions.  The  moment  that  one  of  these  birds  has  seized 
on  a  fish,  which  he  destines  for  his  brood,  the  wretch 
descends  upon  him  like  a  thunderbolt,  and  audaciously 
snatches  it  from  his  beak.  He  is  not  the  happier  for  all 
his  swiftness  in  flight  and  his  supremacy  over  the  other 
inhabitants  of  the  air.  Like  the  majority  of  robbers  and 
vagabonds,  he  lives  in  poverty,  solitude,  and  wretched- 
ness. In  Franklin's  belief  he  was  a  scoundrel  of  the  worst 
kind,  whom  the  tiniest  wren,  frequently  no  larger  than  a 
nut,  does  not  fear  to  attack  with  the  greatest  courage,  and 
to  expel  from  his  neighbourhood.  The  choice  of  the  eagle 
was  not,  then,  a  felicitous  one ;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  the  founders  of  American  independence,  at  whose 
head  w^as  a  hero  so  pure-minded  as  Washington,  did  not 
choose  a  more  appropriate  emblem  for  the  blazon  of  their 
republic. 

The  letter  in  which  Franklin  recorded  his  sentiments 
was  shown  to  me  by  a  celebrated  Philadelphian  book- 
seller, who  preserved  it  in  his  collection  of  autographs ; 
and  I  confess  I  am  entirely  of  the  opinion  of  that  eminent 
statesman.  My  bookseller  knew  me  to  be  a  passionate 
votary  of  the  chase,  and,  at  my  request,  he  furnished  the 


AN  AMERICAN  ANECDOTE. 


11 


following  particulars  relative  to  the  history  of  the  great 
American  eagle  : — 

"  I  descended  the  Mississippi  some  three  years  ago,"  he 
said,  "  in  the  month  of  November,  in  a  small,  light  boat, 
rowed  by  a  couple  of  negroes,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting 
Memphis.  As  it  was  the  beginning  of  winter,  the  entire 
surface  of  the  majestic  river  was  covered  with  battalions 
of  aquatic  birds,  which  had  abandoned  the  northern  seas 


A  SMALL,  LIGHT  BOAT,  KOWED  BY  A  COUPLE  OF  NEGROES." 

and  the  great  frozen  lakes  to  seek  a  less  rigorous  refuge 
in  the  temperate  climates  of  our  Southern  States.  Sud- 
denly one  of  the  boatmen  pointed  out  with  his  finger  a 
gigantic  eagle,  which,  perched  on  the  loftiest  branch  of 
an  old  oak,  with  keen  eye  surveyed  the  rolling  tide,  and 
listened  intently  to  every  distant  sound.  A  moment 
afterwards  the  other  boatman  directed  my  attention  to 
the  opposite  bank,  where,  perched  at  an  equal  height  to 


12  THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  SWANS. 

her  impatient  mate,  a  female  eagle  seemed  anxious  to 
persuade  him  not  to  abandon  his  watch,  and  accord- 
ingly uttered,  at  three  slow  intervals,  a  keen  strident 
cry,  which  resounded  along  the  river-border.  At  this 
signal  the  male  partly  opened  his  wings,  and  responded 
with  a  similar  cry,  which  I  can  only  compare  to  the  wild 
shriek  of  laughter  that  occasionally  breaks  forth  in  a 
lunatic  asylum. 

"  While,  with  their  hands  upon  their  oars,  my  negroes 
abandoned  the  boat  to  the  current  of  the  river,  I  followed 
with  my  gaze  every  movement  of  the  eagles,  who  suffered 
to  pass  by  them  undisturbed  myriads  of  ducks  and  teals, 
as  prey  unworthy  of  their  appetites  :  so  I  understood  a 
moment  later. 

"  At  length  my  ears  were  rent  by  a  piercing  cry,  that 
of  the  female.  At  the  same  time  I  heard,  like  the  hoarse 
sound  of  a  trumpet,  the  voice  of  a  troop  of  swans,  which 
were  cleaving  the  sky  with  snow-white  pinions.  Turning 
my  eyes  northwards  I  quickly  caught  sight  of  the  voyagers, 
beating  the  air  with  their  short  wings,  their  necks  out- 
stretched, their  feet  closed  up  against  the  belly,  and  their 
glances  ranging  the  horizon  in  fear  of  danger.  The  flock 
was  composed  of  five  swans  flying,  as  is  their  custom,  in  a 
triangular  or  wedge-like  phalanx ;  but  the  one  at  the  head 
of  the  convoy  seemed  more  fatigued  than  the  others.  It 
was  this  poor  wretch  whom  the  eagles  selected  as  their  prey. 

"  At  the  moment  of  his  flight  past  the  oak  where  the 
male  bird  was  in  ambush,  the  Jatter  suddenly  unfurled 
his  wings,  raised  a  formidable  cry,  and,  like  a  gloomy 
meteor,  darted  on  his  resigned  victim,  while  his  four 
companions  allowed  themselves  to  drop  into  the  waters 
of  the  Mississippi. 


THE  ^'DESOLATER  DESOLATE.  13 

"  The  swan  made  a  vain  attempt  to  escape ;  but  his 
enemy,  striking  him  under  the  belly  and  under  the  wings, 
with  restless  eagerness,  contrived  in  four  or  five  minutes 
to  fling  him  downward,  with  his  back  upon  the  earth. 

"The  most  hideous  spectacle  possible  was  then  pre- 
sented to  our  horrified  gaze.  The  fierce  bird  clasped  the 
bleeding  body  of  the  beautiful  northern  pilgrim  with  his 
greedy  talons ;  he  muttered  with  a  terrible  delight,  as  if 
enjoying  the  sight  of  the  last  convulsions  of  his  victim. 
Meantime  the  female  remained  perched  upon  her  tree, 
calm  and  indifferent,  trusting  to  the  strength  of  her  lord 
and  master  for  the  successful  issue  of  their  stratagem. 

"  But  from  the  moment  the  swan  ceased  to  move,  she 
understood  that  the  banquet  was  ready  for  her  partici- 
pation; and  flinging  herself  into  the  air,  she  crossed 
the  river  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  descended  on  the 
shore  like  an  aerolite,  and  took  her  seat  at  the  board 
without  being  invited  and  without  inviting  permission. 

"  I  had  waited  until  now  to  act  on  my  own  behalf," 
continued  my  Philadelphian  friend ;  "  and  I  ordered  my 
negroes  to  row  softly  in  the  direction  of  the  spot  where 
the  two  birds  of  prey  thought  themselves  entirely  free 
from  danger.  Without  taking  heed  of  our  approach,  they 
gorged  themselves  with  blood  and  fragments  of  flesh, 
and  we  were  able  to  drop  down  within  range.  My  car- 
bine was  loaded  with  deer-shot.  I  raised  it,  took  aim,  and 
fired.  My  dear  sir,  it  was  a  splendid  shot.  The  female 
never  stirred;  she  had  been  struck  dead.  As  for  the 
male,  it  was  quite  another  affair.  I  had  broken  his  two 
wings,  but  not  hit  his  body ;  and  we  had  to  finish  him 
off*  with  a  blow  or  two  from  our  oars.  This  cowp  de 
grace  we  gave  with  all  possible  care,  for  I  wanted  to 


14  AT  EAGLE  LAKE. 

stuff  my  birds,  and,  consequently,  to  get  hold  of  them 
without  injuring  their  form  or  plumage.  I  succeeded 
beyond  all  expectation ;  and  see,"  said  my  interlocutor, 
throwing  open  the  door  of  his  dining-room,  ^^  here  are 
the  two  feathered  murderers  of  the  Mississippi,  stuffed 
and  prepared  by  one  of  our  most  skilful  naturalists." 

I  could  not  but  admire  the  beauty  of  these  two  speci- 
mens of  the  great  species  of  eagles,  vulgarly  called,  in  the 
United  States,  the  Bald-headed  Eagle,  although  the  head 
is  garnished  with  feathers ;  white,  it  is  true,  which,  at  a 
certain  distance,  gives  it  the  appearance  of  baldness.  I 
had  never  seen  such  enormous  wings.  From  tip  to  tip 
they  measured,  when  expanded,  upwards  of  eight  feet. 

The  first  time  I  myself  came  in  sight  of  one  of  these 
North  American  lammergeiers  was  on  the  border  of  Eagle 
Lake,  in  Adirondack  County,  at  the  foot  of  the  Catskill 
Mountains,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Let  my  readers 
figure  to  themselves  a  sheet  of  water  three  times  as  broad 
as  the  Lake  of  Enghien,  and  as  round  as  a  crown-piece, 
encircled  by  precipitous  rocks,  and  bearing  a  close  re- 
semblance to  a  funnel  about  two-thirds  full  of  water.  On 
one  of  the  wave-washed  rocks  had  flourished  for  cen- 
turies, to  judge  from  its  girth,  a  venerable  oak,  whose 
roots  had  obtruded  themselves  into  every  fissure  and 
cavity,  whose  bark  had  flowed  like  lava  over  the  wall  of 
stone,  where  it  adhered  as  if  it  had  been  rivetted  with 
iron  bands.  This  oak  was  some  ninety  feet  high,  and 
planted  on  the  very  edge  of  the  abyss. 

I  found  myself  in  this  romantic  scene  one  morning, 
with  a  celebrated  English  hunter,  an  enthusiast,  named 
Whitehead,  who,  probably  as  a  satirical  antithesis  to  his 


ST.   HUBERT  S  BROTHERHOOD  OF  HUNTERS. 


15 


name,     covered      his  c 
wrinkled  brow   with 
a   wig    blacker    than 
ebony.      One  of  our 
hunting  -  companions, 
the  famous  Herbert,  ^^B 
surnamed  Frank  For-  li^^ 
ester,  who   was  tem 
porarily  absent,  jested  ^ 
with    Whitehead    on 
this    useless    append- 
age to  his  toilet,   as 
much  too  fantastic  for 
a  man  of  such  grave 
and  decorous  charac- 
ter.      In  their  quips 
and  jibes  I  had  borne  | 
a  part;  but  assuredly, 
when  laughing  at  my 
brother  in  the  frater- 
nity of  Saint  Hubert,  I 
never  once  suspected 
that  to  his    artificial 
scalp  he    would   owe 
his  life. 


From  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning  we 
had  been  traversing 
hills  and  valleys  in 
pursuit  of  widgeons 
and  quails.    Ourgame- 


"  ON  THE  VERY  EDGE  OF  THE  ABYSS. 


16  A  DANGEROUS  ENTERPRISE. 

bag  was  already  three-quarters  full,  and  we  were  think- 
ing of  rejoining  Frank  Forester  at  our  hut,  when  sud- 
denly, as  he  passed  near  the  oak  of  which  I  have 
spoken.  Whitehead  raised  his  eyes  in  the  air,  and 
uttered  an  exclamation  of  joy.  On  one  of  the  highest 
boughs  of  the  time-honoured  tree  he  had  descried,  and  he 
pointed  out  to  me  through  the  branches,  an  eagle's  nest. 
He  had  no  doubt  the  eyrie  was  inhabited,  for  he  had 
remarked  an  oscillation  among  the  twigs  of  which  it 
was  composed.     There  were  eaglets  in  the  nest. 

To  throw  aside  his  gun  and  his  hunting-bag,  to  mount, 
or  rather  haul  himself  up  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  was  but 
the  work  of  a  moment ;  and  my  comrade  executed  this 
gymnastic  feat  without  consulting  me,  without  listening 
to  the  cautions  I  thought  it  necessary  to  address  to  him. 
After  disappearing  for  awhile  in  a  labyrinth  of  verdure, 
I  saw  him  at  the  edge  of  the  nest,  raising  his  head  so  as 
to  look  into  the  interior. 

"  Good  !  good  ! "  he  cried.  ^'  Here  are  a  couple  of 
eaglets,  and  they  open  their  bills  as  if  they  would  like  to 
swallow  me." 

'^  Take  care  !  take  care  ! "  I  replied.  ^'  I  see  the  male 
or  female  bird — I  cannot  exactly  say  which — is  coming 
in  all  haste  towards  the  nest.  Come  down,  I  tell  you — 
come  down  ! " 

It  was  useless  to  call  him.  The  madman  would  pay 
no  attention,  and  continued  climbing.  Eventually,  how- 
ever, and  just  as  he  had  stowed  away  one  of  the  eaglets 
in  his  flannel  shirt,  and  was  preparing  to  seize  the  other, 
the  male  eagle — for  it  was  he — swooped  down  upon  the 
tree,^  and  with  a  blow  of  his  huge  wing  made  my  daring 
companion  reel.     But  Whitehead  did  not  lose  his  pre- 

(414) 


SAVED  BY — HIS  WIG  !  17 

sence  of  mind,  and  drawing  his  hunting-knife  from  its 
sheath,  prepared  to  defend  himself.  He  drove  the  blade 
into  the  eaglets  side ;  but  the  wound  was  not  mortal,  and 
the  bird  rose  anew  in  the  air  to  hurl  himself  again  on 
the  imprudent  hunter. 

I  dared  not  fire  for  fear  of  wounding  my  comrade ;  but 
I  held  my  gun  ready  to  succour  him  at  the  proper  time 
and  place.  What  I  most  feared  was  that  the  eagle  might 
stun  Whitehead,  and  the  latter,  losing  his  hold,  might 
fall  into  Eagle  Lake.  This  apprehension  was  partly  rea- 
lized ;  for  at  the  moment  I  was  about  to  pull  my  trigger, 
the  "bird  of  Jove,"  hoping  to  crush  the  skull  of  his 
enemy  with  one  blow  from  his  formidable  beak,  struck 
violently,  and  plucked  away,  not  a  piece  of  bleeding  flesh, 
but — well — ^the  defensive  wig  of  my  companion. 

The  latter  must  have  lost  his  footing,  and  infallibly  fallen 
into  the  lake,  from  an  elevation  of  six  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  if  his  leg  had  not  caught  in  a  massive  branch,  to 
which  he  clung  stoutly,  and  which  became  his  plank  of 
safety. 

At  the  same  time  I  had  shouldered  my  carbine,  taken 
aim  at  the  eagle,  and  shot  him  in  his  right  wing,  so  that, 
wheeling  round  and  round,  it  dropped  into  the  middle  of 
the  lake.  Whitehead,  recovering  from  his  emotion,  let 
himself  down  as  quickly  as  possible  from  his  oak,  carry- 
ing a  young  eaglet,  which  he  had  choked  dui'ing  his 
struggle  with  the  parent  bird. 

Very  great  caution  was  necessary  in  lowering  himself 
into  the  Eagle  Lake,  where  the  bird,  after  a  painful  con- 
vulsive efibrt,  had  yielded  up  its  last  sigh.  I  sprang  into 
the  water,  and  swimming  lustily  for  some  twenty  fathoms, 
touched  the  extreme  feather  of  the  eagle's  wing,  and  bore 

(414)  2 


18  THE  AMERICAN  EAGLE. 

it  back  triumphantly  to  land.  Its  left  pinion  still  adorns 
the  inkstand  into  which  I  dip  my  pen  to  write  this  nar- 
rative. 

As  for  my  friend  Whitehead,  thanks  to  his  splendid 
ebon-hued  wig,  he  escaped  without  a  scratch.  But  he 
afterwards  died,  while  hunting,  of  a  stroke  of  apoplexy. 

The  eagle  of  the  United  States,  like  its  European  con- 
gener, rarely  lives  alone,  and,  according  to  Audubon, — 
the  illustrious  naturalist,  whose  premature  death  is  to  be 
regretted, — the  mutual  attachment  of  the  male  and  female 
seems  to  last  from  their  first  union  down  to  the  death 
of  one  or  the  other.  Eagles  hunt  for  their  food,  like 
a  couple  of  piratical  confederates,  and  eat  their  prey 
together.  Their  love-season  commences  in  the  month  of 
December,  and  thenceforth  both  male  and  female  become 
very  noisy.  You  may  see  them  flying  in  company,  whirl- 
ing in  the  azure  space,  crying  with  their  uttermost  force, 
playing  and  even  fighting  with  one  another  (but  in  per- 
fect good  temper),  and  finally  retiring  to  rest  on  the  dry 
branches  of  a  tree,  where  the  two  have  prepared  the  first 
layer  of  their  nest.  Or,  perhaps,  they  have  contented  them- 
selves with  repairing  that  of  the  last  incubation.  The 
incubation  begins,  I  may  add,  early  in  January.  The 
nest  is  composed  of  sticks  about  three  and  a  quarter  feet 
in  length,  of  fragments  of  turf  and  shreds  of  lichen  ;  and 
it  measures,  when  completed,  about  five  to  six  feet  in 
circumference.  The  eggs  deposited  by  the  female  in  this 
shapeless  thicket  are  two,  three,  and  sometimes — though 
rarely — four  in  number,  are  of  a  greenish  white,  equally 
rounded  at  the  two  extremities.  Incubation  occupies 
from  three  to  four  weeks. 


HUNTERS  ON  THE  WATCH.  19 

When  the  eaglets  are  hatched,  they  are  covered  with  a 
reddish  down,  and  possess  legs  and  beak  of  most  dispropor- 
tionate length.  Their  parents  do  not  drive  them  out  of  the 
eyrie  until  their  plumage  is  complete  and  they  are  able 
to  fly.  But  before  this  decisive  moment,  when  they  in- 
troduce their  progeny  into  society,  the  eagles  abundantly 
provide  them  with  game  of  every  descriptioii,  so  that  the 
edges  of  the  nest  are  covered  with  fragments  of  bone  and 
skin  and  putrid  flesh, 

I  was  returning  one  winter  evening,  in  the  month  of 
February,  from  trout-fishing  in  the  mountains  of  Cum- 
berland, and  we  were  descending,  two  friends  and  myself, 
from  the  abrupt  escarpments  abutting  on  the  valley  in 
whose  midst  was  built  the  house  of  the  fai-mer  who  gave 
us  lodging,  when  I  pointed  out  to  my  companions  certain 
long  whitish  and  chalky  lumps  of  ordure,  undoubtedly 
proceeding  from  a  bird  of  prey. 

The  peasant  accompanying  us  informed  me  that  there 
were  eagles  in  the  midst  of  these  rocks,  and  pretended 
that  he  had  seen  them  that  same  evening,  but  out  of 
range. 

**  The  robbers,"  he  added,  "  have  carried  off*  more  sheep 
and  poultry  of  my  master's  than  they  are  worth  dollars." 

I  resolved,  while  listening  to  our  guide,  to  seize  this 
opportunity  of  observing  the  habits  of  the  American 
eagles,  and  after  persuading  my  friends  to  halt,  we  con- 
cealed ourselves  under  a  projecting  crag,  and  remained 
there  for  what  seemed  to  us  a  very  long  period.  To  say 
nothing  of  the  weariness  of  "  hope  deferred,"  I  was 
forced  to  listen  to  our  peasant,  who  poured  into  my 
ear  all  his  private  woes,  and  his  particular   grievances 


20  COMING  OF  THE  NOBLE  BIRDS. 

against,  not  only  the  feathered  denizens  of  the  rocks, 
but  the  entire  family  of  Falconidce.  The  garrulous 
Yankee  assured  me  that,  in  the  days  of  his  grandfather, 
who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  armies  of  "Washington,  a 
child,  two  years  old,  had  been  seized  by  an  eagle  in  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  and  had  owed  his  salvation  to  the 
great  difficulty  experienced  by  these  birds  in  taking  to 
the  wing  from  level  ground.  The  father  of  the  inno- 
cent victim  had  slain  the  would-be  ravisher  with  a  stick. 

"  Silence  !"  I  exclaimed  j  "  eagles  can  see  and  hear  at 
a  very  great  distance." 

"  Be  not  afraid,"  he  replied,  "  I  am  keeping  my  eye 
open  ;  and  the  moment  a  bird  hovers  in  sight,  I  will  be 
as  mute  as  death." 

Our  loquacious  narrator  was  about  to  resume  his 
maundering  narrative,  to  the  great  displeasure  of  my  two 
friends  and  myself,  when  suddenly  a  shrill  whistling  was 
heard  on  one  of  the  cornices  of  the  rock  near  which  we 
were  bidden. 

I  put  my  hand  on  the  Yankee's  mouth,  and  looking 
up,  I  caught  sight,  on  the  edge  of  the  crag,  among  some 
faggots  of  wood,  of  a  couple  of  eaglets,  whose  sharp  cries 
and  fluttering  wings  announced  the  coming  of  one  or 
other  of  their  parents, — a  black  point  in  space,  which 
gradually  grew  larger  and  larger,  and  became  clearly 
defined  against  the  azure  of  the  heaven.  In  a  few 
seconds  the  eagle  alighted  as  softly  as  possible  on  the 
stony  ridge  nearest  to  his  eaglets.  He  carried  in  his 
talons  a  piece  of  raw  flesh,  which  be  hastened  to  ofier  to 
his  fledgelings,  already  covered  with  feathers,  and  very 
bold.  As  I  put  forth  my  head  to  see  more  distinctly, 
the  female  in  her  turn  appeared,  descried  us,  uttered  a 


TAKING  THE  ALARM. 


21 


H£  CARRIED  IN  HIS  TALONS  A  PIECE  OF  RAW  FLESH. 


shriek  of  alarm,  dropped  the  prey  she  was  carrying,  and 
suddenly  the  little  ones  vanished  in  the  chink  of  the  rock. 
The  male  flew  away  with  his  utmost  speed,  but  soon, 


22  THE  EMPTY  EYRIE. 

with  an  inexplicable  instinct,  as  if  both  were  convinced 
that  we  bore  no  fire-arms,  they  drew  near,  sweeping 
round  and  round  above  our  heads,  and  giving  utterance 
to  loud  unearthly  screams,  which  seemed  like  a  menace. 

We  promised  ourselves  the  satisfaction  of  returning 
next  day,  armed  with  rifle  and  carbine ;  but  on  the  mor- 
row a  terrible  storm  was  raging,  and  a  week  passed 
before  we  could  undertake  the  expedition.  I  had  taken 
care  to  suggest  to  my  companions  the  advisability  of 
taking  with  us  some  rope-ladders,  and  all  the  apparatus 
necessary  for  escalading  the  cliff,  and  while  some  of  the 
people  of  the  farm  climbed  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
the  others  stationed  themselves  at  the  foot  of  the  rock. 
For  ten  hours  did  we  wait  with  admirable  patience,  and 
nothing  appeared  on  the  horizon ;  and  when,  by  means  of 
the  ladders,  we  descended  to  the  nest,  we  found  it  empty. 
The  eagles,  with  their  usual  sagacity,  had  profited  by  our 
long  interval  of  compulsory  inaction,  and  carried  off 
their  progeny  to  some  secure  retreat,  afar  from  human 
investigations. 

During  my  sojourn  at  New  York,  I  often  amused  m.y- 
self  with  a  trip  on  board  one  of  the  numerous  steam-boats 
which  plough  the  bay  to  the  extreme  point  of  Staten 
Island ;  and  there,  with  no  companion  but  my  dog,  I 
would  make  my  way  towards  the  basaltic  rocks  washed 
by  the  roaring  waves  of  the  Atlantic.  Among  the  almost 
innumerable  islets  which  cluster  about  this  spot,  from 
New  York  to  Key  West,  I  had  discovered  a  little  island, 
about  a  mile  in  length  and  breadth,  and  separated  from 
the  mainland  by  a  channel  of  some  three  hundred  yards, 
half  empty  at  low  water.     Here,  however,  when  the  tide 


THE  ISLAND-HUT. 


23 


flowed  in,  the  tumult  and  fury  of  the  great  billows  was 
like  a  seething  chaos. 

In  this  wild  solitude,  remote  from  all  civilization,  and 
having  no  contact  with  the  rest  of  American  society,  rose 
a  small  rude  hut;  and  in  this  hut,  in  1846,  abode  a 
young  woman  of 
twenty-two,  a  mascu- 
line creature,  of  an 
aspect  severe  and  yet 
gentle,  and  possess- 
ing a  peculiar  sympa- 
thetic voice,  which  re- 
minded me  of  the 
babbling  of  the  Ame- 
rican thrush  when 
watching  over  her 
brood. 

Jessie  —  for  such 
was  the  name  of  the 
lonely  inhabitant  of 
this  sea-side  hut — had 
lost  her  mother;  while 
her  father,  an  aged 
invalid,  dragged  out 
the  last  sands  of  life, 
crouching  before  the 
fire,  smoking  his  pipe,  and  wrapped  in  a  dismal  silence. 
Grief  had  unsettled  his  mind;  the  strings  of  the  brain 
were  loosened;  he  was  almost  imbecile.  Jessie  had 
bravely  taken  charge  of  her  four  brothers;  and  thanks 
to  the  abundance  of  fish,  to  the  sea-birds'  nests,  and 
the  stags  which  she  caught  in  snares,  good  and  plentiful 


OF  AN  ASPECT  SEVERE,  YET  GENTLE. 


24  A  WAIF  OF  THE  SEA-SHORE. 

food  was  never  wanting  in  the  hut.  The  eldest  of 
the  lads  was  about  twenty  years  old,  and  the  youngest, 
in  giving  birth  to  whom  his  mother  had  lost  her  life,  was 
about  fourteen.  This  little  fellow — he  was  so  little  that 
you  would  have  thought  him  about  eight  years  old — was 
the  favourite  of  the  family  ;  and  if  ever  the  father  smiled 
upon  any  one,  it  was  upon  him.  Ben  neither  knew  how 
to  manage  a  net,  to  cultivate  the  ground,  or  assist  in  the 
household  work ;  his  principal  occupation  consisted  in 
weaving  garlands  of  sea- weeds,  in  fabricating  rush  mats, 
and  in  gathering  shells  for  his  sister's  collars  and  brace- 
lets. Often  they  would  find  him  prone  on  a  great 
level  crag,  behind  which  their  hut  was  sheltered ;  and 
there,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  ocean,  he  followed  with 
wistful  gaze  the  white  sails  of  the  distant  ships,  or 
stared  into  the  swift  and  flashing  current  which  bore 
onward  the  wandering  bonitos  or  the  blue -backed 
dorados. 

Often,  too,  with  the  help  of  an  iron  crook,  the  boy 
collected  the  beautiful  ulvge  and  algae,  which  the  furious 
waves  incessantly  tore  up  from  the  submerged  "meadows" 
of  the  ocean  and  cast  upon  the  rocks. 

These  were  the  only  labours  Ben  ever  succeeded  in 
accomplishing,  and  he  was  so  passionately  addicted  to 
them,  that  neither  his  sister  nor  brothers  cared  to  re- 
proach him,  or  to  complain  of  a  desultory  life  which  was 
evidently  natural  to  him. 

From  our  very  first  interview  Ben  had  conceived  a 
great  afiection  for  me,  though  generally  he  was  rendered 
wild  and  alarmed  by  the  presence  of  a  stranger  on  the 
solitary  shore.  The  second  time  that  I  landed  on  the 
island,  he  pressed  me  to  remain  some  days  with  him.     I 


BEN  THE  NATURALIST. 


25 


FOLLOWED  WITH  WISTFUL  GAZE  THE  WHITE  SAILS  OF  THE  DISTANT  SHIPS." 


suffered  myself  to  be  persuaded,  and  all  the  more  readily 
because  Ben  undertook  to  show  me  various  kinds  of 
fish,  and  birds,  and  animals  with  which  I  was  unac- 
quainted. 

And,  in  truth,  the  little  fellow  did  not  deceive  me ;  he 
knew  all  their  hiding-places,  and  could  clamber  unhurt 
the  rough  and  dangerous  crags,  place  his  hand  on  the 


26  IN  PERIL  OF  HIS  LIFE. 

penguin  while  she  brooded  over  her  eggs  without  putting 
her  to  flight;  and  where  I  should  have  declared  war,  he 
made  peace. 

One  morning,  the  third  day  after  my  arrival  at  Jessie's 
hut,  wishing  to  profit  by  a  glorious  sun,  and  to  make  a 
prolonged  exploration  of  the  coast^  I  asked  Jessie  where 
her  brother  was.  She  Went  in  quest  of  him,  called  him, 
him  and  his  three  brothers.  None  of  them  were  on  the 
island.  I  swept  the  shores  with  my  telescope,  but  could 
see  nothing  of  them. 

Resolved,  however,  not  to  waste  the  day  in-doors,  I 
took  my  gun,  and  whistled  for  my  dog ;  but  I  had  not 
gone  twenty  paces  before  1  became  conscious  how  much  I 
missed  my  young  companion  in  my  solitary  walk.  Never- 
theless I  continued  my  journey,  traversing  uncultivated 
heaths  and  matshy  deserts;  sometimes  bringing  down  a 
wild  duck,  and  sometimes  a  snipe ;  and  directing  my  steps 
towards  a  group  of  fantastically-fashioned  rocks,  which 
rose  perpendicularly  along  the  ocean-strand.  With  great 
difficulty  I  forced  a  passage  towards  the  summit  of  these 
rocks,  attracted,  as  it  were,  by  the  irresistible  influence 
of  some  magic  loadstone. 

Suddenly  a  lamentable  cry,  repeated  by  a  hundred 
echoes,  broke  on  my  ear.  It  was  followed  by  a  kind 
of  sharp,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  plaintive  howl.  Kapidly 
doubling  an  angular  projection,  I  remained,  as  it  were, 
struck  with  stupor  in  presence  of  the  alarming  spectacle 
offered  to  my  gaze. 

At  the  extremity  of  a  cable  twisted  round  the  withered 
trunk  of  an  old  oak,  and  suspended  above  the  abyss  of 
water,  oscillated  little  Ben,— wavering  to  and  fro  like  a 
reed, — while  a  formidable  eagle,   with  open  talons  and 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  EAGLE. 


27 


greedy  beak,  with  wings  ex-  (g 
panded    and    ferocious    eye, 
flung  itself  upon  him. 

I  felt  myself  tremble  from 
head  to  foot;  I  shut  my 
eyes  that  I  might  not  see ; 
but  presently  opening  them 
again,  I  discovered  two  of 
Ben's  brothers  endeavouring 
to  haul  in  the  rope,  while 
a  third  threatened  the  eagle 


with  a  huge  stone, 


though 


unable  to  reach  it. 

What  part  to  take  in  the 
affair,  I  knew  not  ■  to  fire  at 
the  eagle  was  impossible,  for 
a  shot  might  hit  poor  Ben. 
With  open  mouth  I  stood^ 
rooted  to  the  spot,  equally 
unable  to  stir  or  speak. 
Under  his  arms  the  courage 
ouslad  clasped  firmly  a  couple 
of  eaglets,  but  just  as  the 
eagle  was  about  to  fly  at  his 
face,  he  suffered  one  of  them 
to  escape.  My  anguish  was 
indescribable,  but  through 
my  half-closed  eyelids  I  saw 
the  king  of  air  dash  head- 
long downwards  to  arrest 
in  its  fall  his  fluttering  little 
one. 


o-"     ;^?-: 


WAVERING  TO  AND  FRO. 


28  THE  HOME  OF  THE  EAGLE. 

Then  I  breathed  again ;  and  the  two  lads,  with  all 
their  might,  hauled  on  the  rope.  Ben  drew  near  the 
edge  of  the  cliff,  and  his  eldest  brother  saluted  the  eagle 
with  a  shower  of  stones. 

Swift  as  lightning,  the  angry  bird  returned  to  the 
combat ;  but  alarmed  by  the  open  beak  of  his  enemy, 
Ben  let  go  the  second  eaglet  and  clung  to  the  tree,  while 
his  brothers  drew  him  towards  them. 

At  the  same  moment,  securing  a  good  aim  at  the  for- 
midable bird,  I  fired  at  him  both  barrels,  and  stretched 
him  dead  at  my  feet,  still  holding  in  his  talons  the  little 
eaglet. 

A  few  minutes  later  I  clasped  in  my  arms  the  young 
robber  of  eagles'-nests,  while  Scolding  him  for  risking  his 
life  to  please  a  fancy  of  mine.  It  was  on  purpose  to  gain 
this  trophy  that  Ben  and  his  brothers  had  stolen  away 
from  the  hut  at  early  dawn,  without  informing  any  one 
of  the  exploit  they  meditated. 

I  must  add,  to  conclude  this  brief  history,  that  I  re- 
solved on  making  a  descent  to  the  eagle's  eyrie,  in  search 
of  the  young  eaglet  which  Ben  had  first  let  go.  I  there- 
fore reloaded  my  rifle,  and  slung  it  in  my  shoulder-belt ; 
then  fastening  the  rope  securely,  and  tying  some  strong 
knots  in  it,  I  lowered  myself  very  slowly,  until  my  foot 
touched  the  eaglet.  The  young  bird  was  struggling  in 
the  middle  of  the  nest,  and  I  easily  made  myself  master 
of  it. 

It  was  on  a  smooth  but  narrow  ledge  that  Jove's  birds 
had  prepared  the  couch  of  their  ofispring ;  an  accumu- 
lation of  branches,  reeds,  and  heath ;  a  kind  of  pestifer- 
ous carrion-house,  surrounded  by  shreds  of  putrid  carcasses 
and  whitened    bones.     The    eagle    I    had  killed   was    a 


WHAT  BECAME  OF  THE  EAGLETS.  29 

female,  and  measured  twelve  feet  between  the  tips  of 
her  wings. 

Three  days  later  I  placed  myself  in  ambush  near  the 
empty  eyrie,  waiting  for  the  male,  who,  however,  did  not 
make  his  appearance.  Either  he  had  somewhere  met 
with  his  death,  or  else,  with  the  natural  cunning  of  his 
race,  had  seen  the  spectacle  of  his  mate's  murder  and  the 
capture  of  his  young  ones,  and  had  prudently  kept  at  a 
distance. 

I  carried  the  two  eaglets  to  Staten  Island,  where  one  of 
them,  in  spite  of  every  care,  died  a  few  weeks  afterwards. 
As  for  the  other,  he  had  grown  fat  and  lazy  in  1849, 
when  I  quitted  the  United  States,  and  strutted  com- 
placently to  and  fro  on  the  terrace  to  which  he  was 
confined.  There,  as  a  prudent  precaution,  he  was  at- 
tached by  a  long  chain  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree  which,  at 
night,  served  him  for  a  resting-place. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE    WILD    HORSE. 


N  two  occasions  I  have  visited  the  Prairies, 
and  lived  among  the  Indians,  during  my  long 
residence  in  the  United  States.  On  the 
second  expedition  my  Pedskin  friends  and 
I  found  ourselves,  one  morning  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber 1848,  in  front  of  a  chain  of  bare,  precipitous  moun- 
tains which,  at  one  place,  sank  into  a  kipd  of  amphi- 
theatral  valley,  through  whose  green  depths  flowed,  like 
a  ribbon  of  silver,  a  bright  and  flashing  rivulet,  whose 
banks  were  clothed  in  flower  -  enamelled  greensward. 
Far  away,  on  the  incline  of  the  mountains  bordering 
the  valley,  rose  a  few  trees,  with  fresh  green  foliage, 
whose  trunks  were  adorned  with  emerald  moss.  Upon 
these  our  eyes  delightedly  rested,  for  they  made  a  plea- 


THE  COUNCIL  IN  THE  PRAIRIE.  31 

sant  contrast  with  the  monotony  of  the  vast  solitude  we 
had  been  traversing  since  we  last  quitted  the  marshy- 
banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

It  seemed  as  if  we  had  been  introduced,  by  some  sud- 
den enchantment,  into  the  fair  image  of  an  English  gar- 
den, designed  by  one  of  the  most  skilful  horticulturists 
of  Great  Britai4. 

On  the  horizon  our  gaze  could  firgt  discover  a  manade, 
or  troop,  of  wild  horses  feeding  tranquilly  at  no  great 
distance  from  a  score  of  bisons,  some  of  whom  were  rumi- 
nating in  the  shelter  of  a  thicket  of  cotton-trees,  while 
the  others  moui^ted  guard.  It  would  have  been  easy  for 
us  to  fancy  ourselves  in  front  of  a  p^^ddock  belonging  to 
an  opulent  Lancashire  farmer. 

The  chief  of  the  Kedskins  asserpbled  round  him  the 
best  hunters  of  l^is  tribe,  and  held  a  solemn  council.  It 
was  resolved  tliat  they  should  execute  the  great  manoeuvre 
called,  in  the  United  States,  among  the  emigrant-settlers 
of  the  Far  West,  the  "  Wild  Horses'  Ring/' 

This  species  of  chase  rec^uires  a  great  number  of  skilful 
horsemen,  who,  echelonning  ii).  alj  directions,  at  a  distance 
of  about  one  hundi-ed  paces  from  eacl^  other,  complete  a 
circle  of  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  yards. 

The  greatest  silence  is  necessary,  for  wild  horses  are 
easily  terrified,  and  their  instinct  is  so  keen  that  the 
slightest  breath  of  wind  brings  to  their  nostrils  the 
scent  of  their  enemies,  the  Redskins  of  the  desert. 

As  soon  as  the  circle  is  formed,  four  hunters,  mounted 
upon  magnificent  steeds,  begin  to  spur  in  the  direction  of 
the  rrianade.  All  the  wild  animals  immediately  precipi- 
tate themselves  in  the  opposite  direction.  But  the 
moment  they  appear  inclined  to  break  through  the  ring 


32  A  WILD-HORSE  HUNT. 

of  horsemen,  the  nearest  hunter  hastens  to  encounter 
them,  and,  terrified  by  his  unexpected  presence,  con- 
strains them  to  retrace  their  steps. 

My  readers  will  understand  the  excitement  and  tumult 
of  the  spectacle  I  am  weakly  endeavouring  to  describe. 
They  cannot  conceive  a  more  splendid  sight  than  this 
herd  of  horses  galloping  to  and  fro,  with  flying  manes 
and  outstretched  necks,  and  breathing  through  their 
nostrils  in  abrupt  and  hasty  snorts,  which  the  surround- 
ing echoes  have  scarcely  time  to  repeat,  and  to  transmit 
from  one  mountain  to  another. 

The  Pawnees,  who  had  hospitably  entertained  me,  now 
fastened  their  baggage-horses  to  trees  and  posts,  lest, 
under  the  influence  of  the  example  of  their  congeners, 
they,  too,  should  take  to  flight.  Fifty  Redskins,  with  the 
chief  of  the  tribe  at  their  head,  glided  along  the  woods 
which  lined  the  hills  on  the  right,  leading  their  chargers 
by  the  hand.  An  equal  nuniber  moved  to  the  left,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  brook ;  and  a  third  body  proceeded, 
by  an  immense  circuit,  to  take  ambush  in  a  line  parallel 
to  the  lower  part  of  the  valley,  with  the  view  of  connect- 
ing the  two  wings,  and  of  drawing  close  and  filling  up 
the  circle,  within  whose  area  the  wild  horses  were  to  be 
confined. 

This  skilful  manoeuvre  was  executed  with  wonderful 
precision;  the  third  line  speedily  joined  itself  to  those 
on  the  right  and  left,  and  the  manade  evinced  some  symp- 
toms of  alarm.  They  neighed  repeatedly;  they  breathed 
violently ;  they  cast  around  them  furtive  and  anxious 
glances.  Soon,  at  a  gentle  trot,  they  disappeared  behind 
a  leafy  ckimp  of  cotton -trees. 


A  GENERAL  "  SAUVE-QUI-PEUT.  33 

It  happened  that  the  Pawnee  chief  was  nearest  to  the 
spot  where  the  scene  transpired  which  I  have  attempted  to 
describe.  He  advanced  slowly  towards  the  animals,  with 
the  intention  of  driving  them  out  of  their  concealment, 
when,  unfortunately,  three  Americans,  my  hunting  com- 
})anions,  emerged  from  the  cover  of  the  wood,  and  hastily 
galloped  forward. 

This  ill-advised  movement  deranged  all  the  plans  of 
the  Redskins. 

At  their  appearance,  the  wild  horses  instantly  dashed 
headlong  down  the  valley,  pursued  by  the  Americans, 
who  howled  like  demons. 

It  was  in  vain  that  the  Pawnees,  who  formed  what  I 
may  call  the  transversal  line,  attempted  to  check  the 
fugitives.  In  their  mad  impetuosity  they  broke  through 
the  rank,  and  sped  across  the  plain. 

At  this  moment  the  Redskins  gave  utterance  to  their 
war-whoops,  and  spurred  their  steeds  into  a  furious 
gallop.  The  melee  became  general,  and  each  horseman 
rode  "  for  his  own  hand." 

The  bisons,  which  had  hitherto  remained  peacefully 
occupied  in  grazing  on  the  sweet  prairie-grass,  seemed 
now  to  take  council  among  themselves ;  then,  regarding 
with  looks  of  surprise  the  human  avalanche  pouring 
down  in  their  direction,  they  took  to  flight  **  with  one 
consent,"  and  galloped  towards  a  marsh  situated  in  the 
valley-bottom. 

As  for  the  horses,  they  wheeled  round  into  a  narrow 
defile  which  struck  into  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  and 
all  disai)peared  pell-mell  in  a  whirlwind  of  dust,  with 
wild  cries,  and  loud  hurrahs,  and  a  sound  of  voices  and 
hoofs  not  unlike  repeated  claps  of  thunder, 

(414)  3 


34  THE  CAPTURED  STEED. 

The  three  Americans,  and  nearly  fifty  Pawnees,  fol- 
lowed close  in  their  rear ;  but  none  of  them  as  yet  was 
near  enough  to  hurl  the  lasso  successfully. 

I  must  here  confess  my  want  of  skill  as  a  horseman, 
and  acknowledge  that  I  formed  one  of  the  stragglers; 
though  I  was  mounted  on  an  excellent  mare,  whose  back 
supported  an  Indian  saddle,  large  and  comfortable  as  an 
arm-chair,  and  utterly  precluding  all  danger  of  a  fall. 
My  feet  were  safely  harboured  in  enormous  Mexican 
stirrups,  like  those  worn  by  the  Turkish  cavalry.  I  was 
thus  able  to  meet  unshaken  the  most  terrible  collision. 

Amongst  the  horses  of  the  manade,  I  had  singled  out 
a  magnificent  steed,  black  as  a  raven^s  wings,  and  I  pressed 
upon  him  closely,  in  company  with  two  young  Pawnees, 
who  had  been  appointed  to  wait  upon  me  by  their  chief. 
In  climbing  the  defile,  this  horse  stumbled  and  fell. 
Immediately  the  two  Hedgkins  leaped  from  their  chargers, 
and  seized  him  by  the  mane  and  nostrils. 

He  struggled  furiously,  beating  the  earth  with  his 
fore-feet,  and  with  hind-feet  striking  out  violently ;  but, 
spite  of  his  efforts,  my  two  companions  passed  a  lasso 
around  his  neck,  and  secured  him  by  a  rope  which 
fastened  his  right  fore-foot  to  his  left  hind-foot. 

While  the  other  Indian  hunters  and  the  three  Ameri- 
cans pursued  the  remainder  of  the  manade,  I  returned  to 
the  camp  with  our  noble  prize,  and  with  his  captors,  who 
had  attached  another  cord  to  the  lasso,  and  who,  by  extend- 
ing the  two  ropes,  kept  the  horse  at  a  sufficient  distance 
to  prevent  any  injury  from  his  furious  movements.  As 
soon  as  he  advanced  on  the  one  side,  he  was  drawn  back 
on  the  other ;  and  before  he  arrived  at  the  camp  he  was, 
not  completely  tamed  perhaps,  but  certainly  conquered. 


WHENCE  COME  THE  WILD  HORSES?  35 

As  the  result  of  this  confused  chase,  the  Kedskins 
brought  back  four  colts  and  a  mare.  Two  of  the  former 
were  of  a  bay  colour,  the  other  two  white ;  and  their 
mother,  as  we  supposed  her  to  be,  was  black  as  jet. 

On  the  day  after  their  capture,  these  six  animals, 
snatched  in  so  brutal  a  manner  from  the  boundless  liberty 
of  the  rolling  prairies,  appeared  to  have  understood  the 
necessity  of  submission,  and  had  become  as  docile  as  their 
congeners  who,  for  several  years,  had  been  denizens  of 
the  Pawnee  camp. 

The  capture  of  a  wild  horse  is  one  of  the  exploits  most 
belauded  and  envied  among  the  Redskins,  to  whatever 
tribe  they  belong,  in  the  immense  savannahs  of  the  United 
States.  The  animals  who  enjoy  the  glorious  freedom  of 
these  vast  plains  are  of  different  forms  and  different 
colours,  and  it  is  by  such  means  their  origin  is  recog- 
nized. Some  seem  to  be  of  the  English  breed,  and  pro- 
bably descend  from  horses  which  escaped  from  the  fron- 
tier-colonies of  England  prior  to  the  declaration  of 
independence  in  1776;  others,  of  smaller  stature,  but 
more  robust,  have  undoubtedly  sprung  from  the  Andal- 
usian  barbs,  introduced  by  the  Spanish  colonists  after 
Hernandez  de  Soto  had  taken  possession  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  its  valley-plains. 

The  evening  following  this  great  chase,  we  were  grouped 
around  the  blazing  fires  which  we  had  kindled  for  culi- 
nary purposes.  Our  seats  were  skins  and  furs  spread  upon 
the  sward.  An  immense  bowl,  made  of  maple  wood, 
simmered  before  us,  containing  a  savoury  olla  podrida 


36  THE  INDIAN  ENCAMPMENT. 

of  wild  turkeys  and  slices  of  peccary  hams.  Several 
quarters  of  venison,  spitted  on  a  couple  of  wooden  spits, 
grilled  above  the  largest  fire,  whose  cinders  spluttered 
and  crackled  as  they  were  moistened  by  the  fat.  We 
had  neither  dishes  nor  forks ;  but  each,  with  his  hunter's 
knife,  cut  himself  a  hunch  of  venison,  dipping  each 
morsel  into  a  small  cup  filled  with  salt  and  pepper. 

I  must  here  do  justice  to  the  cookery  of  the  Pawnees  : 
this  ragout,  and  its  lordly  accompaniment  of  venison, 
seasoned  by  the  air  of  the  prairies,  appeared  to  me  as 
delicious  and  as  appetizing  as  any  masterpiece  ever  in- 
vented and  executed  by  a  Careme  or  a  Francatelli.  Our 
only  beverage  was  coffee,  boiled  in  a  caldron,  sweetened 
with  yellow  cassonada,  and  poured  out  in  cups  of  pewter. 

Soon  the  twilight  gave  way  to  night's  deep  darkness, 
and  the  camp  presented  a  picturesque  spectacle,  which 
artists  would  have  contemplated  with  pleasure.  Scattered 
fires  flamed  or  flickered  in  the  midst  of  the  trees,  and 
round  the  glowing  embers  the  Indians  clustered,  some 
seated,  and  others  stretched  on  the  turf,  enveloped  in 
their  ample  cloaks. 

For  myself,  I  listened,  well  pleased,  to  the  stories  of 
the  Pawnees,  who  were  gathered  round  me,  and  who, 
with  their  fantastic  babble,  beguiled  the  monotony  of  the 
watch,  by  repeating — 

"  Tales  as  strange, 
As  full,  methinks,  of  wild  and  wondrous  change. 
As  any  that  the  wandering  tribes  require. 
Stretched  in  the  desert  round  their  evening  fire," 

Legends  aVjound  among  the  Indians,  whose  supersti- 
tious veneration  for  the  j^henomena  of  nature  exceeds 
everything  which  the  imagination  of  an  European  could 
invent.      One  of  them  asserted   that   the  hunters   often 


LEGENDS  OF  THE  PRAIRIES. 


37 


STRETCHED  IN  THE  DESERT  ROUND  THEIR  EVENING  FIRE." 


found  in  the  prairies  fragments  of  thunderbolts,  and  out 
of  the  metal  made  the  heads  of  their  arrows  and  lances. 
A  warrior  armed  with  these  means  of  defence,  he  said, 


38  A   PHANTOM-STEED. 

was  invincible;  but  was  often  threatened  with  danger  by 
electricity.  If  a  storm  broke  out  during  a  battle,  he  was 
carried  off  by  the  lightning,  and  reduced  to  dust. 

An  Indian  of  the  tribe  of  Blackfeet,  surprised  by  a 
hurricane  in  the  midst  of  a  savannah,  was  stricken  by 
lightning,  and  fell  to  the  ground  in  a  swoon.  On  re- 
covering his  senses,  Jove's  bolt  lay  by  his  side,  and  the 
hoof  of  a  magnificent  horse  pawed  the  perilous  metal. 
To  seize  the  animal's  bridle,  and  mount  on  his  back,  was 
the  work  of  a  moment.  But,  alas !  the  Blackfoot  had  be- 
stridden the  lightning,  which,  a  new  and  terrible  Pegasus, 
carried  him  upward  as  in  a  balloon,  to  fling  him,  sense- 
less and  half-dead,  at  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Some  months  elapsed  before  he  regamed  the  encampment 
of  his  tribe,  and  then  he  was  so  changed,  with  a  wrinkled 
brow  and  snow-white  hair,  that  no  person  could  recognize 
him. 

Another  of  my  companions  related  several  anecdotes  of 
a  certain  jet-black  horse,  which  had  haunted  the  plains  of 
Arkansas  for  many  years,  and  successfully  defied  all  the 
efibrts  of  the  hunters  to  capture  him.  His  renown  ex- 
tended from  east  to  west,  and  north  to  south.  He  seemed 
to  be  a  phantom-steed — unapproachable,  indescribable — 
whose  feet  were  lighter  than  those  of  a  gazelle,  and  whose 
figure  was  as  graceful  as  the  neck  of  a  lovely  woman, 
mantled  in  tresses  of  ebon  darkness.  One  of  the  Pawnees 
told  us  that,  on  a  certain  evening,  before  the  moon  had 
risen,  he  contrived,  by  stealthily  creeping  along  the 
ground,  to  approach  within  a  few  paces  of  the  enchanted 
animal,  and  hurl  his  lasso  at  him.  The  noble  beast  had, 
at  first,  appeared  resigned  to  his  captivity,  and  galloped 
side  by  side  with  his  captor,  guiding  his  steps  by  that  of 


A  NEW  AND  TERRIBLE  PEGASUS. 


39 


"a  new  and  TEKRIBLE  PEGASUS." 

the  Redskin's  mare,  who  proceeded  in  the  direction  of 
the  camp.  But  suddenly,  on  the  first  watch-fire  coming 
in  sight,  the  horse  made  a  supreme  efibrt ;  he  rid  himself 
of  the  lasso,  wheeled  round,  and  with  the  swiftness  of 
lightning  plunged  into  the  obscurity  of  the  night. 


The  horses   captured    by  the   Pawnees    became,   next 


40  HOW  THE  TAMELESS  IS  TAMED. 

morning,  the  object  of  very  particular  attention.  I 
think  it  will  interest  my  readers  if  I  relate  to  them 
here  the  means  which  the  Redskins  employed  to  tame 
them.  In  the  first  place,  they  fasten  to  the  horse's 
back  a  light  load  of  two  pieces  of  wood,  with  the  view 
of  teaching  him  a  lesson  of  servitude.  The  haughty 
independence  of  the  animal  is  immediately  aroused ;  but, 
after  an  unequal  conflict,  in  which  the  Indian  supplied 
the  place  of  strength  by  cunning,  the  poor  horse  was 
compelled  to  feel  the  inutility  of  further  resistance,  and, 
throwing  himself  on  the  ground,  mutely  acknowledged 
his  defeat.  An  actor  on  the  stage,  portraying  the  despair 
of  a  vanquished  prince,  could  not  have  performed  his 
part  with  more  dramatic  vigour. 

The  second  lesson  consists  in  forcing  the  animal  to  rise 
by  the  pressure  of  the  bit.  At  first  he  hesitates  to 
obey ;  he  lies  full  length  on  the  ground ;  but  under  the 
combined  influence  of  bit  and  whip,  he  neighs,  he  leaps  to 
his  feet,  and  bends  his  head  between  his  two  fore-legs. 
He  is  then  completely  subdued ;  and,  after  undergoing  for 
two  or  three  days  successively  these  humiliations  of  slav- 
ery, is  turned  out  at  liberty  among  his  tamed  congeners. 

I  cannot  but  compassionate  the  magnificent  animals 
thus  trained  by  the  Pawnees,  and  whose  free  wild  life 
has  been  transformed  into  a  miserable  servitude.  Instead 
of  traversing  at  will  the  vast  and  almost  boundless  pas- 
turages of  the  West,  speeding  from  prairie  to  prairie, 
descending  from  the  hill  into  the  plain,  cropping  the 
flowers  and  grasses,  quenching  their  thirst  in  the  running 
brooks,  they  are  condemned  to  a  perpetual  slavery,  to  the 
bondage  of  the  yoke,  to  a  life  of  hardship,  and  a  wretched 
death. 


AN  ABRUPT  TRANSITION. 


41 


Is  not  this  abrupt  transition  comparable  to  certain 
human  existences]  He  who  to-day  is  a  monarch,  to- 
morrow becomes  a  prisoner ;  and  so  the  noble  courser, 
free  and  unshackled  in  the  morning,  and  king  of  the 
prairie,  in  the  evening  is  harnessed  to  a  hawker's  cart  ! 


CHAPTER   III. 


THE  TURKEYS. 


EFORE  the  epoch  of  my  adventurous  excursions 
into  the  midst  of  the  Redskins  of  the  American 
prairie,  I  had  never  seen  the  wild  turkey  ex- 
cept in  the  streets  of  New  York,  exhibited  in 
the  shop  of  a  poulterer  or  provision-merchant,  or  hanging 
over  the  shoulder  of  a  Yankee  farmer,  who  had  come  to 
the  market  of  the  great  city  to  dispose  of  the  splendid 
birds  he  had  killed  on  his  own  land.  Of  course,  I  was 
well  aware  that  turkeys  were  the  savouriest  game  in 
North  America;  but  they  had  never  come  within  the  range 


FLOCK  OF  TURKEYS.  43 

of  my  trusty  fowling-piece.  If  I  wished  to  test  my  luck  and 
skill  upon  them,  I  must  wander  either  into  the  states  of  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  Illinois,  Indiana — all  situated  in  the  centre  of 
the  American  territory,  along  the  banks  of  the  Missouri 
and  the  Mississippi,  the  two  mightiest  rivers  of  the 
American  continent — or  into  Georgia  and  the  two  Caro- 
linas,  among  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  where,  however, 
these  birds  are  approached  with  difficulty,  for  they  live  on 
the  wildest  heights,  in  the  depths  of  unfathomable  ravines, 
and  in  the  recesses  of  woods  untrodden  by  the  foot  of 
man. 

One  morning,  during  my  sojourn  with  the  Redskins,  in- 
formation was  brought  to  M.  Simonton,  a  hunting-com- 
panion of  mine,  that  numerous  turkeys  had  been  sighted 
by  an  Indian  on  the  edge  of  a  small  wood  of  cotton-trees ; 
this  wood  lining  the  green  savannah  in  whose  centre  we 
had  pitched  our  tents. 

For  my  friend  and  I  to  start  in  company  with  the  guide 
who  had  brought  us  the  welcome  intelligence,  was  but  a 
moment's  work.  The  Redskin  advised  us  to  preserve  the 
completest  silence.  He  himself  set  us  an  example  of  pre- 
caution, for  he  marched  with  so  much  lightness  over 
ground  covered  with  leaves  and  heather,  that  we  were 
tempted  to  believe  he  had  wings  to  his  feet. 

After  making  numerous  circuits  in  the  natural  paths  of 
the  cotton-tree  grove,  we  arrived  on  the  border  of  a  field 
clothed  thickly  and  deeply  with  an  herb  called  buffalo- 
grass.  It  grew  to  a  height  of  about  twelve  inches,  and 
amongst  it  clucked,  and  gobbled,  and  strutted  a  score  of 
magnificent  turkeys.  The  intense  delight  I  felt  in  con- 
templating, from  my  covert  behind  a  screen  of  foliage. 


44  A  SUCCESSFUL  VOLl.EY. 

this  new  and  splendid  game — new,  at  least,  for  me — can 
only  be  understood  by  a  genuine  sportsman.  Black  and 
Nick,  my  two  pointers,  held  back  by  a  leash,  burned  witli 
impatience ;  their  eyes  seemed  starting  from  their  head, 
and  their  nostrils  expanded  at  the  scent  of  the  game 
which  they  had  winded. 

M.  Simonton  and  I  consulted  each  other  with  a  glance 
to  decide  on  what  steps  it  was  best  to  take.  Should  we 
fire  our  four  barrels  simultaneously  into  the  midst  of  the 
flock,  or  walk  straight  up  to  them,  scatter  them  among 
the  thickets,  and  pick  them  off  singly,  as  is  the  practice  in 
Europe  ?  We  decided  on  the  latter  plan,  and  letting  slip 
our  dogs,  followed  them  without  delay.  At  first  the 
turkeys  in  utter  astonishment  watched  our  advance,  with- 
out any  one  of  them  offering  to  move.  They  ceased  from 
their  pastimes,  and  remained  on  the  qui-vive.  When  we 
arrived  within  fifty  paces,  one  of  the  largest  cocks  of  the 
turkey  fraternity  gave  forth  an  impetuous  accelerated 
clucking,  which  became  the  signal  for  a  general  disper- 
sion. Then  we  fired  simultaneously,  and  three  victims 
lay  stretched  upon  the  ground. 

Black  and  Nick  rushed  in  pursuit  of  the  birds,  which 
were  scattered  in  all  directions ;  but  a  whistle  recalled 
them  to  our  sides,  and  while  we  reloaded  our  guns,  our 
Bedskin  attendant  tied  the  three  turkeys  by  their  feet,  and 
threw  them  over  his  shoulder. 

The  wind  blew  from  the  north,  yet  the  air  was  warm 
and  balmy.  We  decided  upon  continuing  the  chase  to 
windward,  that  we  might  have  a  greater  chance  of  getting 
near  our  game.  We  therefore  bore  to  the  right,  without 
losing  a  minute. 

M.   Simonton  and  I  directed   our  course  towards  the 


IN  HOT  PURSUIT. 


45 


WE  DECIDED  ON  THE  LATTER  PLAN,  AND  LET  SLIP  OUR  DOGS 


nearest  detachment  of  turkeys.  These  birds  had  made  a 
flight  of  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  paces; 
then  we  had  seen  them,  to  use  a  vulgar  but  expressive 
phrase,  take  to  their  heels,  and  trot  like  ostriches.     On 


46  HUNTING  DOWN  THE  GAME. 

entering  another  undulation  of  the  praiiie  they  were 
hidden  among  the  herbage. 

Here  we  lost  sight  of  them,  but  our  dogs  soon  recovered 
the  scent ;  yet,  spite  of  their  persevering  search,  they 
could  find  none  of  the  turkeys.  After  wheeling  about, 
and  wandering  to  and  fro,  they  halted  before  a  thick  mass 
of  shrubs  and  reeds,  which  rose  to  an  elevation  of  about 
thirteen  feet. 

Once  arrived  at  this  point,  where  the  game  had  disap- 
peared from  our  eyes,  our  dogs  again  recovered  the  scent. 

This  manoeuvring  lasted  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  an 
hour ;  but,  at  length,  the  Kedskin  who  accompanied  us 
said  to  M.  Simonton  in  his  picturesque  language  : — 

*^  The  black  bird  is  cunning,  and  wishes  to  cheat  the 
pale-face.  He  has  mounted  on  legs  of  wood  that  he  may 
leave  no  trace  of  his  course.  Cast  thy  glances  among 
the  trees,  and  thine  eye  shall  discover  the  eye  of  the  cun- 
ning bird." 

Nothing  could  be  truer.  The  turkeys  had  taken  their 
flight  to  a  few  paces  distant  from  the  bush,  and  were  crouch- 
ing down  in  the  midst  of  the  branches.  Perched  upon  the 
lianas,  pressing  close  against  one  another  like  hens  on  the 
roosting-poles  of  a  poultry-yard,  they  had  depressed  their 
neck  to  a  level  with  their  shoulders,  and  thus  situated, 
patiently  waited^  even  holding  their  breath,  until  the 
danger  was  past. 

Black  and  JSTick  darted  into  the  thicket ;  thev  seemed 
to  have  forgotten  their  early  training,  and  drove  forward 
the  game  instead  of  bringing  them  to  a  stand.  The  whole 
flock  resumed  their  flight,  leaving  about  five  stragglers 
among  the  bushes.  Three  struggled  in  convulsions  of 
agony ;  two  had  fallen  to  the  ground,  shot  dead. 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  TURKEY. 


47 


From  this  moment  I 
held  it  as  proved  that 
nothing  was  easier  than 
to  kill  a  turkey;  his  enor- 
mous size  and  lumbering 
flight  both  contribute  to 
render  him  the  certain 
prey  of  the  sportsman ; 
hut  if  the  wound  is  not 
jnortal,  if  he  is  struck 
only  in  the  wings,  the 
turkey,  instead  of  losing 
his  time,  like  most  of  the 
gallinacese,  in  struggling 
on  the  ground,  escapes 
immediately,  and  his  gait 
is  so  rapid  that,  unless 
you  possess  an  excellent 
dog,  he  is  soon  beyond 
the  reach  of  discovery. 
If  the  turkey  is  hit  in 
the  neck,  throat,  or 
breast,  he  is  dead;  while 
if  the  shot  strike  him  in 
the  middle  of  the  back, 
he  runs  again  to  such  a 
distance  that  he  is  nearly 
always  lost. 

The  dogs  follow  up  the 
scent  of  the  turkeys  for 
about  a  mile.  I  have 
seen  some  American  dogs. 


PERCHED  UPON  THE  LIANAS. 


48  ADVICE  GRATIS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

trained  to  the  sport,  wliicli,  when  they  come  upon  the 
trail  of  a  flock,  set  out  silently  on  a  signal  from  their 
master;  but,  on  arriving  in  sight  of  the  birds,  they 
bark  incessantly,  with  the  view  of  terrifying  them,  and 
been  making  them  fly  in  all  directions.  Once  they  have 
been  separated  in  this  manner,  in  calm  warm  weather, 
the  sportsman's  task  is  easy :  bringing  down  his  bii'ds  one 
after  another,  as  quickly  as  he  can  load  and  fire  his  gim,- 
he  hands  them  over  to  his  negio  attendant  to  carry. 

Turkeys  generally  live  in  the  middle  of  the  grassy 
savannahs  which  stretch  along  the  border  of  the  woods. 
In  early  morning  and  in  the  evening  they  are  to  be  found 
near  the  marshes,  sheltered  by  the  tall  herbs,  and  scratch- 
ing up  the  ground  in  search  of  worms  and  insects  ;  but  at 
noon,  and  during  the  night,  they  return  towards  the 
threshold  of  the  forests,  and  perch  themselves  upon  the 
trees  to  roost.  It  is  diflicult  to  descry  them  when  in  this 
position,  for  they  are  so  motionless,  that  they  seem  to 
form  an  inherent  part  of  the  branch  on  which  they  repose. 
General  rule  :  if  the  bird  is  crouching  on  his  legs,  he  is 
asleep,  and  the  hunter  may  approach  him  without  fear. 
If  he  is  standing  upright,  be  sure  he  is  on  the  watch,  and 
at  the  slightest  noise  he  will  be  off*  and  away;  very  often 
flying  to  such  a  distance  that  it  is  impossible  to  trace  him. 

Turkeys  are  frequently  hunted  in  America  by  moon- 
light, when  the  birds  are  roosting  among  the  trees.  The 
report  of  a  gun  does  not  then  terrify  them,  and  you  may 
slaughter  the  whole  flock  without  changing  your  position. 

One  morning,  wlien  hunting  in  one  of  the  counties  of 
Missouri,  I  heard  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  plantation, 


TURKEY-SLAUGHTER.  49 

which  was  surrounded  by  a  hedge  of  carob-trees,  a  re- 
peated cluck,  cluck,  which  attracted  my  attention.  I 
advanced  with  light  footsteps,  and  speedily  descried, 
perched  on  a  leafless  bough,  a  noble  turkey,  who*  cackled 
with  amazing  volubility.  The  bird  was  about  fifteen  paces 
distant ;  I  was  on  the  point  of  firing  at  him,  when,  on  my 
left,  successive  cluck,  clucks  warned  me  that  several  males 
were  replying  to  the  summons  of  the  female.  In  fact,  1 
soon  distinguished  among  the  high  grass  a  score  of  turkeys 
advancing  towards  me.  Their  eyes  blazed  with  an  un- 
known fire,  their  gait  was  precipitate,  and  their  amorous 
ckickings  reminded  one  of  a  cat  miauling  in  the  gutters. 
As  soon  as  they  were  within  fifteen  paces  I  fired  among  tho 
flock,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  bringing  down  six  enormous 
birds,  of  whom  some  were  dead,  and  others  too  severely 
wounded  to  fly.  Will  the  reader  believe  me  when  I  say 
that  the  remainder  of  the  birds  would  not  abandon  those 
who  had  fallen  to  my  double-barrel,  and  that  I  was  able 
to  hit  four  of  them  in  succession  without  quitting  the  spot 
where  my  six  victims  lay  ^ 

One  of  my  friends,  who  had  travelled  on  horseback  in 
the  interior  of  Arkansas,  told  me  that,  having  killed  with 
a  pistol-shot  a  superb  turkey  whom  he  found  squatting 
on  the  earth,  he  went  to  pick  her  up,  and,  to  his  astonish- 
ment, discovered  that  she  had  been  sitting  on  a  nest  con- 
taining fourteen  little  ones,  evidently  hatched  within  the 
last  four  and  twenty  hours.  The  poor  mother,  spite  of 
the  imminence  of  the  danger,  had  scorned  to  abandon  her 
progeny. 

An  United  States  farmer  complained,  and  with  justice, 

(414)  4 


50  THE  turkeys'  ground. 

of  the  damage  committed  in  his  maize  plantations  by  a 
flock  of  turkeys,  which  would  not  yield  to  intimidation, 
and  seemed  even  to  defy  the  murderous  gun.  He  adopted 
the  following  method  of  obtaining  his  end.  A  large  trench 
was  excavated  by  his  orders  ;  he  sprinkled  grains  of  maize 
over  the  bottom ;  and  having  loaded  a  blunderbuss 
to  the  very  muzzle,  he  so  fixed  the  murderous  weapon 
that,  being  elevated  on  a  couple  of  spars,  it  commanded 
the  whole  trench.  To  the  trigger  of  the  blunderbuss  he 
fastened  a  thread,  which  he  proposed  to  pull  at  a  suitable 
opportunity,  from  the  covert  afforded  by  a  neighbouring 
bush.  The  turkeys  soon  discovered  the  trench  and  the 
maize,  and  devoured  every  grain,  without  ceasing,  how- 
ever, to  commit  their  depredations  in  the  neighbouring 
fields. 

The  gentleman  farmer  renewed  the  bait  several  times, 
and  the  poultry  soon  grew  so  accustomed  to  seek  their 
food  in  this  particular  locality,  that  the  negroes  of  the 
plantation  christened  it  with  the  name  of  the  ^^  Turkeys' 
Ground.'^ 

One  evening,  before  sunset,  the  squire  thought  an 
opportune  moment  had  arrived  for  making  use  of  his  in- 
fernal machine.  Behold  him  creeping  along,  on  hands 
and  knees,  to  the  spot  where  his  blunderbuss  was  secreted. 
He  pulls  the  thread,  the  powder  ignites,  and  he  hears, 
predominant  above  the  explosion,  a  terrible  noise — the 
cries  of  the  dying,  and  the  flutter  of  the  wings  of  those 
who,  having  escaped  death,  were  flying  afar  from  the 
scene  of  slaughter.  Forty-three  victims  were  found  in 
the  trench ;  some  dead,  others  still  stumbling  to  and  fro, 
and  others  struggling  in  the  last  convulsions. 

"It  was  an  amazing  sight  ! "  said  the  Yankee  fai-mer, 


AN  AMERICAN  ^'  INVENTION."  51 

who  told  me  the  tale ;  and  when  I  asked  him  what  he 
had  done  with  all  this  game,  since  his  family  consisted 
of  only  ten  persons,  including  two  valets,  he  told  me  he 
had  salted  thirty-five,  and  had  found  them  an  economical 
addition  to  his  winter  stores  of  provision.  And,  more- 
over, this  turkey-massacre  had  so  terrified  the  birds  of 
the  neighbourhood,  that  they  had  retreated  to  a  distance, 
and,  consequently,  his  next  crop  of  maize  was  as  abun- 
dant as  could  be  desired. 

Turkeys  are  also  caught  in  the  United  States  by  means 
of  snares.  These  instruments  consist  of  a  small  bone, 
which,  fashioned  in  a  certain  manner,  and  attached  to  a 
small  skin-bag  full  of  dried  peas  or  beans,  produces  a  sound 
like  the  cry  of  a  female  turkey.  To  this  appeal  the  males 
readily  respond,  hasten  to  the  spot,  and  are  incontinently 
^'  bagged." 

The  Americans  make  use  of  another  device,  a  trap, 
which  deserves  to  be  described. 

When  in  any  particular  wood  the  turkeys  are  found  to 
be  numerous,  the  spot  which  they  most  frequent  is  duly 
noticed,  and  over  an  area  of  about  sixty  paces  in  length  is 
built  up  a  kind  of  cage,  made  of  branches  wattled  together, 
so  as  to  form  an  impenetrable  rampart,  but  admitting 
nevertheless  the  passage  of  light.  This  cage  is  carefully 
hollowed  underneath,  and  the  ground  is  cleared  of  every 
kind  of  plant  and  grass.  One  of  the  extremities  of  this 
immense  vault  or  cellar  is  hermetically  sealed  up,  while 
the  other  presents  a  passage,  or  rather  a  gully,  about  three 
feet  high,  having  the  form  of  an  ogive.  At  intervals  the 
two  sides  of  the  cage  are  connected  by  roosting-poles. 
When  once  the  trap  is  finished,  the  sportsman  covers  the 


52  A  SUCCESSFUL  EXPEDITION. 

gi'ound  inside  with  grains  of  maize,  and  issuing  by  the 
ogive-like  opening,  he  doubles  round  one  side  of  the  trap, 
scattering  a  train  of  seed  thick  enough  to  render  it  impos- 
sible to  be  overlooked.  The  flocks  of  turkeys  soon  discover 
the  seeds,  and  as  they  eat  them  follow  up  the  train  to 
the  opening,  which  they  enter  without  much  hesitation. 
Once  they  are  in,  they  cannot  get  out  again ;  and  fre- 
quently a  fortunate  sportsman,  on  visiting  his  trap  in 
the  morning,  will  find  a  score  of  turkeys  to  reward  his 
toil. 

But  we  must  add,  as  the  shadow  to  our  picture,  that 
hurtful  animals,  such  as  foxes,  prairie  wolves,  and  lynxes, 
which  breed  in  the  North  American  forests,  sometimes 
anticipate  the  sportsman's  morning  visit ;  and  when  the 
latter  penetrates  into  his  cage,  he  often  finds  nothing  but 
feathers  and  a  few  half-gnawed  bones. 

I  shall  conclude  this  chapter  on  the  American  turkeys 
by  describing  one  of  the  most  successful  sporting  expe- 
ditions ever  accomplished — at  least,  I  believe  so — in  the 
prairies  of  the  New  World. 

My  friend  and  I  had  been  with  the  Redskins  about  a 
fortnight,  when,  one  morning,  an  Indian  hastened  to 
inform  the  chief  of  his  tribe  that,  at  about  five  miles 
from  the  camp,  he  had  fallen  in  with  a  flock  of  turkeys, 
consisting  of  nearly  two  hundred.  Although,  as  a  rule, 
the  Redskins  do  not  value  very  highly  the  flesh  of  these 
birds,  whom  they  catch  only  by  means  of  snares,  the 
chief's  desire  to  render  himself  agreepJjle  to  his  pale-faced 
guests  suggested  to  him  the  idea  of  giving  immediate 
orders,  that  the  opportunity  of  affording  them  an  addi- 
tional pleasure  should  not  be  let  slip. 


A  CURIOUS  SPECTACLE. 


53 


In  half  an  hour  everybody  was  on  the  march — men, 
women,  and  children — and  silently  we  took  our  way 
towards  the  place  where  the  Indians  had  encountered  the 
turkeys.  About  half  a  mile  from  this  spot  the  whole 
tribe,  at  a  signal  from  the  chief,  divided  into  two  detach- 
ments, one  proceeding  in  a  northward,  and  the  other  in 
a  southward  direction.  It  was  a  curious  spectacle  to  see 
about  two  hundred  and  eighty  Redskins  marching  in  file, 
in  single  rank,  with  the  body  half  bent,  so  that   theii- 


IT  WAS  A  CUKIOUS  SPECTACLE  TO  SEE 


head  might  not  rise  above  the  grass  through  which  they 
forced  their  passage. 

Soon  a  clucking,  repeated  by  several  cocks,  warned  us 
that  we  had  been  perceived  or  heard  by  the  turkeys. 
The  whole  flock  appeared  before  us ;  and  when  the  chief 
of  the  Redskins  gave  the  signal  of  attack,  by  raising  his 
war-whoop,  all  his  tribe  rushed  forward  headlong,  making 
the  air  resound  with  piercing  and  guttural  cries. 

Suddenly,  as  at  a  single  bound,  the  mob  of  turkeys 


54 


A  HECATOMB  OF  VICTIMS. 


flew  before  us,  pursued  by  the  Indians,  who  halted  as 
soon  as  they  thought  the  birds  were  in  want  of  rest.  The 
same  manceuvre  was  successfully  essayed  five  times ;  and 
in  the  end  the  weary  birds,  unable  to  fly  any  longer, 
trotted  in  front  of  us,  supporting  themselves  on  their  legs 
and  on  the  extremities  of  their  wings,  but  closely  pursued 
by  the  Indians,  who  caught  them  by  the  neck  and  killed 
them  on  the  ground. 

When  they  returned  to  the  camp,  and  before  the  chief's 
tent  counted  up  the  results  of  the  hunt,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  turkeys  lay  piled  up  in  a  single  heap.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  flock  had  escaped  this  murderous  '^  steeple- 
chase," either  by  concealing  themselves  among  the  herb- 
age, or  by  allowing  our  company  to  pass  onward,  and 
then  escaping  in  the  rear. 


CHAPTER  lY. 


THE  CAYEUTE  j    OR,  THE  PRAIRIE  WOLF. 

MONG  the  most  rapacious  and  most  dangerous 
animals  of  North  America,  the  wolf  (com- 
monly called  the  cayeute  in  some  of  the 
Southern  States)  is  one  with  whom  the 
hunters  consider  an  encounter  to  be  as  formidable  as 
with  a  panther  or  a  grisly  bear.  Wolves,  far  more 
numerous  in  North  America  than  in  Europe,  are  perhaps 
more  horrible  to  the  sight  than  they  are  in  the  old  con- 
tinent. Everywhere  along  the  tracks  of  the  dreary  wil- 
derness, as  well  as  in  inhabited  localities,  in  the  environs 
of  farms  and  villages,  in  the  prairies  or  in  the  woods,  the 
wolf — the  ghoul  of  the  animal   race — bursts    upon  the 


56  ABOUT  THE  CAYEUTES. 

traveller  with  foaming  jaws  and  glaring  eyes,  and  with  a 
deep  harsh  growl,  which  betrays  the  mingled  feelings  of 
cowardice  and  audacity. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  ensnare  the  cayeutes,  but  they  are 
frequently  hunted  with  dogs  and  horses.  Their  skin  is 
of  a  dull  reddish  colour,  mixed  with  white  and  gray  hairs. 
Such  is  their  ordinary  colour ;  but,  as  in  other  animals, 
the  varieties  are  numerous.  Their  bushy  tail,  black  at 
the  tip,  is  nearly  as  long  as  one-third  of  their  whole  body. 
They  closely  resemble  the  dogs  which  one  sees  in  the 
Indian  wigwams,  and  which  are  certainly  descended  from 
the  same  species.  We  meet  with  them  in  the  regions 
between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Pacific,  and  to  the  south 
of  Mexico.  They  hunt  in  troops,  like  jackals,  and  pursue 
goats  and  bisons,  and  such  other  animals  as  they  think 
they  can  master.  They  do  not  dare  to  attack  a  herd  of 
bisons,  but  follow  them  in  numerous  bands  until  som6 
straggler  falls  off  from  the  main  body — a  young  calf,  for 
example,  or  an  old  male — then  they  pounce  upon  him, 
and  rend  him  in  pieces.  They  accompany  the  caravans 
of  travellers  or  parties  of  hunters,  take  possession  of  the 
camps  which  they  abandon,  and  devour  the  fragments  of 
the  morning  or  evening  meal.  Sometimes  they  steal  into 
the  encampment  during  the  night,  and  seize  the  rations 
put  aside  by  the  emigrants  for  the  morrow's  breakfast. 
These  thefts  sometimes  exasperate  their  victims,  and, 
growing  less  greedy  of  powder  and  shot,  they  pursue  them 
with  resolute  anger  until  several  of  the  depredators  have 
bit  the  dust. 

This  species  of  wolf  is  the  most  numerous  of  all  the 
American  carnivora,  and  hence  the  cayeutes  are  not  in- 
frequently decimated  by  famine.     Then,  but  only  then. 


A  FAVOURITE  PLUNDER-GROUND.  57 

they  feed  upon  fruits,  roots,  and  vegetables,  or  upon  any- 
thing else  which  can  satisfy  their  raging  hunger. 

The  cayeute  ignores  every  sentiment  of  sympathy,  and 
for  this  very  reason  inspires  none.  I  subjoin,  however, 
an  anecdote  which  proves  that  the  thieving  robber  of  the 
woods  is  capable  of  a  certain  sensibility ;  of  the  nerves, 
at  all  events,  if  not  of  the  heart.  It  was  told  to  me  in 
my  tent  one  evening,  while  I  sojourned  among  the 
Pawnee  Indians. 

During  the  first  epoch  of  the  colonization  of  Kentucky, 
the  cayeutes  were  so  numerous  in  the  prairie  south  of 
that  State  that  the  settlers  durst  not  quit  their  dwellings 
unless  armed  to  the  teeth.  The  children  and  women 
were  kept  strictly  shut  up  within  the  house.  The 
cayeutes  which  infested  the  country  belonged  to  the  race 
with  a  dark  gray  skin  j  a  species  very  abundant  in  the 
districts  of  the  north,  in  the  centre  of  the  dense  forests 
and  unexplored  mountains  of  the  Green  River. 

The  village  of  Henderson,  situated  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Ohio,  near  its  point  of  confluence  with  the  Green 
River,  was  the  cantonment  most  frequented  by  these  four- 
footed  plunderers. 

The  pigs,  calves,  and  sheep  of  the  planters  paid  a 
heavy  tribute  to  them.  In  the  heart  of  winter,  when 
the  snow  lay  thick  on  the  ground,  and  the  cattle  were 
confined  to  their  stalls,  the  famished  cayeutes  would 
even  attack  men ;  and  more  than  one  belated  farmer, 
as  he  returned  to  his  home  in  the  evening,  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  furious  pack,  from  whom  he  escaped  with 
difficulty. 

Among  the  horrible  adventures  of  this  kind  which  I 
have  heard  related  around  the  camp-fire,  I  do  not  know 


58  '^  OLD  RICHARD. 

of  any  more  impressive  than  one  in  which  Kicharcl,  the 
old  negro  violin-playerj  figured  as  hero. 

Kichard  was  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  fine  old  good- 
for-nothing  darkie.  The  whole  district  acknowledged 
that  his  only  merit  was  his  skilful  scraping ;  and  this 
merit — which  is  not  one  in  our  eyes — was  highly  esti- 
mated by  all  ^^  the  gentlemen  of  colour/'  and  even  by 
those  whites  who  lived  within  a  circuit  of  forty  miles. 
What  is  certain  is,  that  no  fete  ever  took  place  to  which 
Dick  the  fiddler  was  not  invited. 

Marriage  feasts,  christening  feasts,  those  soirees  pro- 
longed to  dawn  which  are  called  '^  breaks-down  "  in  the 
United  States, — none  could  be  carried  on  without  the 
assistance  of  his  violin ;  and  old  as  was  the  negro  fiddler, 
bald  as  was  his  head,  and  black  as  was  his  skin,  Kichard 
was  not  the  less  welcome  wherever  he  presented  himself, 
with  his  fiddle  wrapped  up  in  a  striped  handkerchief 
under  his  arm,  and  a  knotty  stick  in  his  hand. 

Old  Richard  was  "  the  property  "  of  one  of  the  Hen- 
dersons, a  member  of  the  family  who  have  given  their 
name  to  a  county  and  a  village  in  Kentucky.  His 
master  was  very  partial  to  him  on  account  of  his  obedient 
disposition,  and  the  slave,  instead  of  toiling  at  field 
labour,  was  left  entirely  free  to  do  whatever  he  pleased. 
No  one  objected  to  this  tolerance,  for  Richard,  whom  his 
master  called  *^  a  necessary  evil,"  had  the  valuable  talent  of 
keeping  in  good  humour  the  negroes  of  the  plantation  by 
means  of  his  wonder-working  fiddle. 

Richard,  who  fully  comprehended  the  importance  of 
his  high  functions,  was  most  attentive  to  his  duty,  and 
his  punctuality  was  admirable  when  those  who  honoured 
him  with  their  confidence  made  known  their  need  of  his 


HIS  FESTIVAL  SUIT.  59 

services.  In  this  respect  one  thing  irritated  him ;  any 
mishap  or  disarrangement  rendered  him  ferocious.  In 
spite  of  the  timidity  proverbially  considered  a  character- 
istic of  the  children  of  genius,  old  Richard  was  fierce  as 
an  hyaena  when,  at  any  of  the  negro  fetes  over  which  he 
presided,  there  was  the  slightest  failure  in  etiquette  or 
the  convenances.  As  for  himself,  he  was  scrupulous  to 
a  fault  in  every  minute  observance ;  and  since  he  had 
been  called  to  the  position  whose  high  functions  he. 
discharged  so  admirably,  no  one  had  ever  been  kept  wait- 
ing for  him.  And  yet — one  day — poor  Dick  !  The  fol- 
lowing plain,  unvarnished  narrative  will  show  that  it 
was  not  his  fault  if  he  once  failed  in  his  engagement. 

A  negro  marriage  was  to  take  place  on  a  plantation 
situated  about  six  miles  from  that  where  the  old  fiddler 
lived.  To  make  the  feast  complete,  he  had  been  duly 
invited,  and  by  common  consent  was  appointed  master  of 
the  ceremonies.  It  was  wizater-time ;  the  cold  was  ex- 
cessive j  and  the  snow,  having  fallen  for  three  days  con- 
tinuously, covered  the  ground  to  a  depth  of  several  feet. 

While  all  Mr.  Henderson's  negroes,  with  their  master's 
kind  permission,  hastened  to  repair  to  the  scene  of  fes- 
tivity, the  black  Apo]lo  had  attended  to  his  toilette  with 
even  more  than  his  wonted  particularity.  A  shirt  collar 
of  white  linen,  as  immeasurably  long  in  front  as  it  was 
high  behind,  so  that  Richard's  head  resembled  a  ball  of 
charcoal  in  a  sheet  of  white  paper — a  blue  coat  with  gilt 
buttons — long  full  trousers  down  to  the  heels  of  his  boots 
— a  red  silk  cravat  fringed  at  both  ends — a  green  waist- 
coat ornamented  with  a  patch  of  orange  where  the  watch- 
pocket  was  formerly  placed — boots  which,  alas !  had  seen 
their  best  days — and  a  hat  of  the  Calabrian  shape ; — such 


60  *'  EN  ROUTE  "  FOR  THE  FEAST. 

was  the  excessively  elegant  and  fashionable  costume  in 
which  Dick,  the  old  fiddler,  disported  himself  on  this 
occasion,  as  proud  as  any  Greek  Adonis  or  Koman  An- 
tinous. 

After  a  last  glance  in  the  bit  of  looking-glass  fastened 
with  three  nails  to  the  wall  of  his  bedroom,  and  a  low 
sigh  expressive  of  his  entire  satisfaction  with  the  coup 
d'odil  which  he  saw  reflected  in  it,  Kichard  took  his  fiddle 
under  his  arm  and  started. 

The  moon  shone  brightly  above  his  head,  and  the  stars 
sparkled  in  the  firmament  like — to  use  the  fiddler's 
picturesque  expression — gilt-headed  nails  hammered  into 
the  celestial  ceiling  by  an  audacious  upholsterer  !  Not  a 
sound  was  audible,  except  the  sharp  crackling  of  the 
snow,  as  Richard  planted  his  heavy  feet  on  the  frozen 
crust.  The  road  which  he  had  to  traverse  was  very 
narrow;  its  tortuous  meanders  threaded  a  dense  forest 
never  opened  up  by  axe  or  saw,  and  whose  recesses  were 
still  as  unknown  as  at  the  epoch  when  the  Redskins  alone 
were  in  possession  of  the  territory.  The  path  could  only 
be  tracked  out  by  a  foot  traveller ;  no  road  passable  for 
carriages  was  to  be  found  within  a  circuit  of  several 
miles. 

The  deep  and  silent  solitude  of  the  scene  had  infallibly 
produced  its  natural  efiect,  that  of  terror,  or,  at  least,  of 
apprehension,  on  a  member  of  the  great  human  family, 
but  that  the  old  man  was  temporarily  lost  in  absorbing 
reflections,  and  in  his  overpowering  anxiety  to  arrive  at 
the  rendezvous  in  due  time.  He  doubled  his  pace  as  he 
thought  of  the  angry  glances  which  would  await  him 
from  negroes  and  negresses  impatient  to  begin  the  dance, 
and  he  deeply  regretted  the  time  he  had  lost  in  giving  an 


UNWELCOME  COMPANIONS.  61 

extra  polish  to  the  metal  buttons  of  his  coat,  and  smooth- 
ing out  the  splendid  points  of  his  shirt  collar. 

While  thinking  of  the  reproaches  that  threatened 
him,  old  Dick  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  horizon,  and  the 
moon  shining  above  his  head  showed  him  that  he  was 
considerably  later  than  he  had  thought.  His  two  legs 
then  began  to  move  like  the  w^heels  of  a  locomotive,  in 
such  wise  as  to  keep  him  ever  in  advance  of  certain 
black  shadows  which  seemed  to  track  his  steps  along  the 
forest-path. 

These  shadows  were  cast  by  the  cayeutes,  the  horrible 
cayeutes,  which  at  intervals  gave  vent  to  a  yelp  of  greedy 
impatience ;  but  old  Dick  took  no  heed  of  them. 

Nevertheless,  he  was  soon  compelled  to  devote  all  his 
attention  to  what  was  passing  in  his  rear.  He  had  ac- 
complished one  half  of  his  journey,  and  through  the 
openings  in  the  trees  could  already  perceive  the  clearing 
he  must  traverse  to  reach  the  place  where  he  was  expected. 
The  furious  cries  of  the  rapacious  beasts  were  now  re- 
doubled, and  the  noise  of  theii^  feet  as  the  snow  crackled 
beneath  them,  inspired  the  unfortunate  old  man  with  in- 
describable horror.  The  number  of  the  animals  seemed 
to  increase  with  every  step  he  took,  until  the  pack 
resembled  an  ant-hill  seen  through  the  lens  of  a  gigantic 
microscope. 

Wolves,  in  all  regions  of  the  world,  look  twice  be- 
fore they  pounce  upon  a  man ;  they  study  the  ground, 
and  wait  for  a  favourable  opportunity.  This  character- 
istic was  a  fortunate  one  for  old  Dick,  who  saw  more  and 
more  clearly  the  extent  of  the  danger,  and  increased  the 
rapidity  of  his  march  in  proportion  as  his  pursuers  be- 
came more  daring,  lightly  touching  his  legs,  and  frolic- 


62  THE  VALUE  OF  A  FIDDLE. 

somely  endeavouring  to  get  ahead  of  one  another. 
Dick  was  well  acquainted  with  the  customs  of  his 
enemies,  and  was  careful  not  to  run  :  any  such  movement 
would  have  been  the  signal  for  a  general  assault ;  but  the 
cayeutes  seldom  attack  men  unless  they  show  signs  of 
fear. 

His  only  chance  of  safety  was  to  prolong  this  dangerous 
escapade  as  far  as  the  border  of  the  forest.  There  he 
hoped  the  cayeutes,  who  do  not  dare  to  venture  into 
open  ground,  would  quit  him,  and  allow  him  to  finish 
his  journey  unmolested.  He  remembered  also  that  in 
the  m.idst  of  the  clearing  stood  an  abandoned  hut,  and  the 
thought  that  he  might  reach  this  refuge  partially  restored 
his  courage. 

Every  moment  the  audacity  of  the  cayeutes  increased, 
and  the  unfortunate  negro  could  not  look  around  him 
without  seeing  the  brilliant  eyes  which  glittered  in  every 
direction,  like  the  phosphorescent  gleams  of  fire-flies  in 
the  summer  air.  One  after  another,  the  quadrupeds  tried 
their  teeth  against  the  meagre  legs  of  the  fiddler,  who, 
having  lost  his  stick,  had  recourse  to  his  violin  to  keep 
the  enemy  at  a  distance.  With  the  first  blow,  the  strings 
produced  a  jar,  thrown  back  simultaneously  by  the  sound- 
post  of  the  instrument ;  and  this  .^olian  utterance  had 
the  immediate  effect  of  making  the  cayeutes  spring  back 
several  paces,  in  grim  astonishment  at  the  unexpected 
music. 

Dick,  always  observant  by  nature,  and  now  by  necessity, 
began  to  thrum  his  violin  with  his  fingers  :  the  carnivor- 
ous animals  instantly  gave  new  signs  of  surprise,  as  if  a 
charge  of  shot  had  riddled  their  hides.  This  fortunate 
diversion,   several  times  repeated,   carried   Dick   to  the 


MUSIC  HATH  CHARMS.  63 

edge  of  the  forest ;  and  profiting  by  a  favourable  oppor- 
tunity, he  glided  into  the  open,  still  working  away  at  his 
violin  strings,  and  moving  in  the  direction  of  the  deserted 
cabin. 

The  cayeutes,  with  tail  between  their  legs,  halted  a 
moment,  and  watched  their  intended  victim  flying  before 
them ;  but  their  devouring  instinct  soon  regained  the 
ascendant,  and,  uttering  a  unanimous  howl,  they  sprang 
forward  in  pursuit  of  the  unhappy  negro.  If  by  any 
chance  the  brutes  had  overtaken  Dick  in  their  mad  out- 
burst of  rage,  he  would  in  vain  have  had  recourse  to  his 
fiddle.  By  running  he  had  destroyed  the  charm,  and  the 
cayeutes  would  not  have  halted  to  listen  to  him,  had  he 
played  like  the  ancient  Orpheus  or  the  modern  Paganini. 

Happily,  the  old  man  reached  the  hut  just  as  the 
wolves  were  at  his  heels.  With  a  hand  rendered  doubly 
vigorous  by  the  imminence  of  the  danger,  he  pushed  open 
the  door,  sprang  inside,  shut  back  the  door,  and  secured 
the  latch  with  a  piece  of  wood  which  he  found  lying 
within  reach.  Then  he  hoisted  himself,  though  not 
without  some  danger  to  his  apparel,  to  the  summit  of  the 
open  roof,  of  which  the  joists  alone  remained  in  their 
places,  supported  by  the  wooden  blocks  at  the  four  corners 
of  the  walls. 

Old  Dick  was  now  comparatively  out  of  danger ;  but 
the  cayeutes  manifested  a  fury  which  every  minute  in- 
creased, and  threatened  to  become  terrible.  Several  of 
them  had  found  their  way  into  the  hut,  and  conjointly 
with  those  remaining  outside,  sprung  at  the  fiddler's 
limbs,  which  were  barely  protected  by  nimble  movements 
and  manifold  kicks  from  numerous  bites. 

In  spite  of  his  alarm  and  anguish,  Dick  had  not  for- 


04  A  VIOLIN  SOLO. 

gotten  his  violin,  which  had  saved  his  life  in  the  middle 
of  the  forest.  Seizing  his  bow  with  a  firm  hand,  he  drew 
from  the  instrument  a  strident  discord  which  rose  above 
the  deafening  howls  of  the  cayeutes,  and  silenced  them  as 
if  by  enchantment.  And  the  silence  for  awhile  con- 
tinued, except  when  interrupted  by  the  frantic  sounds 
awakened  from  the  violin  by  the  old  negro's  agitated 
fingers. 

This  inharmonious  medley  could  not  long  satisfy  the 
famished  carnivora,  and  from  their  renewed  efforts  to 
reach  their  prey,  Dick  understood  that  music  hath  not 
always  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast ;  they  rushed 
more  furiously  than  ever  against  the  wall,  and  began  to 
scale  it.  He  thought  himself  lost,  especially  when  at  a 
couple  of  feet  from  his  tremulous  legs  he  discovered  the 
enormous  head  of  a  cayeute,  whose  great  eyes  seemed  to 
cast  forth  fire  and  flame. 

^'  Heaven  help  me  ! "  he  cried,  "or  T  am  an  eaten 
many 

And  without  even  knowing  what  he  did,  he  let  his  agi- 
tated fingers  wander  over  the  strings  with  a  nervous,  un- 
conscious movement.  He  began  to  play  the  famous 
national  air  of  Yankee  Doodle  ;  it  was  the  swan  chanting 
his  requiem  in  the  hour  of  death. 

But  suddenly — oh,  miracle  of  harmony! — tranquillity 
prevailed  around  the  negro  musician.  Orpheus  was  not 
a  myth ;  the  animals  obeyed  the  new  enchantment,  and 
when  Dick,  recovering  from  his  terror,  was  able  to  com- 
prehend what  passed  around  him,  he  perceived  that  his 
auditors  were  a  hundred  times  more  attentive  to  the 
charms  of  music  than  those  who  were  accustomed  to  laud 
his  skill  as  an  executant.     This  was  so  true,  that  the 


AN  ASSEMBLAGE  OF  CONNOISSEURS.  65 

moment  his  bow  ceased  to  move,  the  cayeutes  leaped  for- 
ward to  renew  the  battle. 

Dick  now  perceived  what  was  his  only  chance  of  safety : 
he  must  continue  playing  his  violin  until  human  succour 
arrived.  And  ere  long,  yielding  to  the  magical  influence 
of  his  art,  he  forgot  the  peril  of  his  singular  position ; 
abandoning  himself  to  all  the  phantasies  of  his  imagina- 
tion, he  treated  his  quadrupedal  audience  to  a  fantasia  in 
which  he  surpassed  himself.  Never  had  he  played  with 
more  taste,  more  soul,  more  expression.  And  in  the 
intoxication  of  his  triumph  he  forgot  the  marriage  feast, 
and  the  brilliant  illumination,  the  punch,  and  the  supper 
which  awaited  him  at  no  great  distance. 

But,  alas  1  every  medal  has  its  reverse  in  this  world  ; 
the  to-day  of  pleasure  is  succeeded  by  the  to-morrow  of 
anguish.  As  the  night  crept  on,  the  old  negro  felt  the 
cold  piercing  to  his  very  bones.  In  vain,  he  sought  to 
gain  a  moment's  repose :  if  the  bow  abandoned  the 
strings  of  the  violin,  the  cayeutes  dashed  themselves 
against  the  sides  of  the  hut ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  he  con- 
tinued to  wander  through  the  maze  of  harmony,  these 
novel  dilettanti  seated  themselves  on  their  hind-quarters, 
their  bushy  tails  stretched  out  upon  the  snow,  their  ears 
pricked  up,  their  tongues  pendent  from  their  open  jaws ; 
and  they  followed,  with  a  measured  cadence  of  the  head 
and  body,  every  rhythm  which  flowed  from  old  Dick's 
violin. 

While  this  fantastic  scene,  illuminated  by  the  silver 
beams  of  the  moon,  was  being  enacted  in  the  open  plain, 
the  negroes  who  awaited  the  arrival  of  their  comrade 
to  begin  the  bridal  festivities,  grew  angrily  impatient, 
though  unable  to  account  for  the  unusual  delay  of  one  so 

(4U)  5 


66 


WHERE  IS  OUR  FIDDLER  ? 


THE  OLD  MUSICIAN  MAINTAINED  WITHOUT  CESSATION  HIS  CONCERT." 


scrupulously  punctual.     At  lengtli,  after  a  long  and  fruit- 
less discussion  of  a  subject  which  no  one  could  clear  up, 


HELP  AT  HAND.  G7 

six  set  forth  from  the  house  on  an  expedition  of  discovery, 
and  arriving  near  the  cabin  on  whose  roof  Dick  was  so 
uncomfortably  mounted,  they  discovered  a  horde  of 
wolves  on  harmony  intent.  The  old  musician  maintained 
without.,  cessation  his  compulsory  concert,  his  eyes  fixed 
upon  his  mortal  enemies. 

Immediately  the  six  negi^oes  uttered  a  simultaneous 
cry,  and  the  carnivorous  audience,  startled  into  a  panic 
of  terror,  thought  of  nothing  but  flight.  In  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye  every  one  had  vanished,  and  the  musician, 
frozen  and  half  dead,  fell  fainting  into  the  arms  of  his 
saviours.  His  frizzled  hair,  which,  despite  of  his  old  age, 
was  black  as  jet  that  evening  when  he  performed  his 
fastidious  toilette,  had,  in  the  space  of  a  couple  of  hours, 
turned  white  as  the  snow  which  lay  in  glittering  masses 
all  around. 

And  thus  ends  my  story  of  the  Negro  Fiddler  and  the 
Prairie  Wolves. 


CHAPTEE    V. 


THE    OPOSSUM. 


GASCON,  very  garrulous  and  very  amusing, 
with  whom  T  was  well  acquainted  in  the 
United  States,  told  me  that,  one  day,  when 
walking  in  the  woods,  he  met  with  an  opos- 
sum. Struck  by  the  quaint  appearance  of  this  new 
species  of  game,  he  hurled  at  him  a  simple  stick  which  he 
lield  in  his  hands. 

^^  This  rogue,"  said  he,  narrating  his  further  adventures, 
*^  stopped  short,  just  as  if  his  ribs  had  been  broken  by  the 
salute ;  so  I  picked  him  up,  and  slid  him  delicately  into 
my  waistcoat  pocket,  satisfied  that  I  should  not  return 
home  empty-handed.  At  all  events,  thinks  I  to  myself, 
I  shall  have  a  roast  for  my  dinner.  But,  ^  Confusion  ! 
what  is  this  ? '   I  cried,  as  I  felt  a  number  of  sharp  teeth 


A  STRANGE  STORY.  69 

penetrating  tlirongli  the  stuff  of  my  waistcoat,  and  gnaw- 
ing at  something  below  my  waist.  '  This  rascally  animal 
will  spoil  my  pantaloons  ! '  I  extracted  him  from  my 
pocket,  and  holding  hiin  by  the  feet,  I  gave  him  a 
blow  with  my  fist  on  his  little  suout  which  would  have 
stunned  an  ox.  '  Have  you  had  enough,  you  scoundrel '? ' 
cried  I,  flinging  him  over  my  shoulder. 

''  Will  you  believe  it,  my  dear'?  that  abominable  opossum 
had  not  had  enough,  for  he  bit  me  in  the  ear.  This  time 
I  squeezed  his  sides,  and  I  heard  his  bones  crack  ;  then, 
taking  hold  of  him  by  the  tail,  lest  he  should  dirty  my 
hands,  I  went  on  my  way.  But  lo  !  he  made  a  sort  of 
summerset  and  bit  my  fingers  !  Ah,  well,  as  a  punish- 
ment for  such  misbehaviour,  I  first  strangled  him  ;  and — 
you  may  believe  me  if  you  like — I  would  rather  be  hung 
from  the  highest  yard  of  the  tallest  ship  in  Bordeaux 
harbour  than  stoop  one  inch  to  pick  up  another  opossum  !" 

This  strange  animal,  indigenous  to  North  America,  be- 
longs to  the  family  of  the  Didelphidse.  On  first  catching 
sight  of  him  you  would  think  he  was  wholly  devoid  of 
instinct,  while,  on  the  contrary,  he  is  as  full  of  tricks  as 
the  most  cunning  of  foxes.  The  female  opossum  carries 
a  natural  pouch,  into  which,  at  the  least  sign  of  danger, 
her  little  ones  fly  for  refuge ;  and  at  the  bottom  of  it  are 
placed  the  teats  which  provide  them  with  nourishment. 
Another  peculiarity  of  the  anatomical  structure  of  these 
animals  is,  that  the  first  toe  of  their  hind-feet  has  no  nail, 
and  is  separated  from  the  others  like  the  thumb  of  the 
human  hand ;  while  the  other  fingers,  set  close  together, 
are  armed  with  long,  crooked  nails. 

On  tlie  subject  of  the  opossum  I  was  animated  with 


70  ^^  PLAYING  'possum." 

the  liveliest  curiosity.  I  had  often  heaixl  the  anin:al 
spoken  of;  and  many  persons  had  told  me  of  the  device 
to  which  he  resorts  when,  surprised  by  the  hunter,  he 
finds  escape  impossible, — how  he  falls  to  the  ground  ap- 
parently lifeless,  as  if  mortally  wounded  by  his  pursuer's 
gun. 

If  by  chance,  thinking  him  really  dead,  you  turn  aside 
your  gaze,  or  throw  him  negligently  into  your  game-bag,  he 
watches  for  a  favourable  moment,  and  glides  beyond  your 
reach,  just  when  you  are  thinking  least  about  him.  This 
stratagem  of  his  has  given  rise  to  the  popular  proverbial 
phrase  in  the  United  States  of  "  playing  'possum,"  which 
may  be  compared  with  the  English  ^^  shamming  Abra- 
ham" and  the  French  ''  faire  le  niorty  It  is  enough,  I 
have  been  told,  to  tap  his  head  so  lightly  that  the  tap 
would  not  kill  a  fly,  for  him  immediately  to  stretch  out 
his  limbs  with  all  the  rigidity  of  a  corpse.  In  a  word,  he 
''  shams  Abraham."  In  this  situation  you  may  torture 
him,  cut  his  skin,  almost  flay  him,  and  he  will  not  move 
a  single  muscle.  His  eyes  grow  dull  and  glazed,  as  if 
covered  with  a  film ;  for  he  has  no  eyelids  to  protect  his 
organs  of  sight.  You  may  even  throw  him  to  your  dogs 
in  the  belief  he  is  dead;  but  forget  him  only  for  a 
minute,  and  he  opens  his  half-closed  eyes,  and  when  the 
opportunity  appears  favourable,  turns  tail  without  a  word 
of  warning  ! 

In  the  course  of  my  hunting  expeditions  no  opossum 
had  ever  come  within  gunshot.  Perhaps,  had  it  not  been 
for  my  strong  curiosity,  I  should  have  hesitated  before  I 
wasted  any  powder  on  such  an  animal,  when  informed  by 
a  planter  of  Louisiana,  with  whom  I  was  spending  a  few 


HOW  THE  OPOSSUM  IS  HUNTED.  71 

weeks,  that  the  neighbouring  woods  were  full  of  his 
congeners. 

**  Frequently/'  he  said,  "  my  negroes  will  quit  their 
huts  at  full  moon,  armed  with  axes,  and  followed  by  a 
hairless  dog,  which,  spite  of  its  ugliness,  possesses  an 
unparalleled  nose.  He  follows  up  the  scent,  and  guides 
the  party  to  the  foot  of  the  tree  where  the  animal  has 
sought  a  refuge. 

"  A  torch  of  resin  is  immediately  lighted,  and  the  axe 
vigorously  plied  at  the  roots  of  the  sheltering  tree,  with- 
out any  regard  for  its  strength  or  venerable  age.  You 
should  hear  the  songs  and  jests  and  guttural  cries  of  my 
negroes  :  no  words  can  describe  them  adequately.  In 
due  time  the  tree  yields ;  and  this  unusual  movement, 
incomprehensible  to  the  opossum,  instead  of  warning  him 
of  the  coming  danger,  induces  him  to  hoist  himself  further 
forward  am-ong  the  branches.  Patatras  !  the  tree  is  on 
the  ground,  and  with  it  the  opossum,  who  sometimes 
drops  right  into  the  dog's  jaws.  If  by  any  accident  he 
finds  means  to  escape,  his  safety  is  by  no  means  certain. 
In  a  couple  of  minutes  the  teeth  of  his  enemy  fasten  on 
his  hind-legs ;  and  though  he  ^  plays  'possum,'  the  negro 
who  plucks  him  from  the  mouth  of  his  favourite  dog 
never  forgets  to  convert  the  sham  into  a  reality. 

"  My  negroes  weary  themselves  more  in  a  few  hours 
for  the  sake  of  pleasure  than  they  will  do  in  as  many  days 
in  working  for  my  behoof.  These  ^unfortunate  slaves,' 
as  the  Abolitionists  call  them,  generally  kill  three  or  four 
opossums  in  one  of  their  expeditions;  and  if  I  should 
happen  to  have  attired  them  in  a  yellow  waistcoat,  a  pair 
of  blue  stockings,  and  red  trousers,  they  never  fail  to 
complete  their  elegant  toilet   with   a  cap   made   out    of 


72  A  NOCTURNAL  EXPEDITION. 

'possum's  skin.     I   must  own,"  he  added,  "  that  I  havo 
frequently  entered  very  heartily  into  an  opossum-hunt." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  when  my  host  spoke  so  em- 
phatically of  this  distinguished  variety  of  the  chase ;  but 
he  answered,  very  seriously,  that  I  was  wrong  in  jesting 
on  so  interesting  a  subject,  and  that  if  I  wished  to  ascer- 
tain the  reasons  which  had  encouraged  his  partiality  for 
this  kind  of  sport,  I  would  discover  that  it  was  neither  so 
trifling  nor  so  ridiculous  as  it  seemed. 

His  proposal  was  immediately  accepted,  and  the  master 
gave  orders  for  all  the  necessary  preparations  to  be  com- 
pleted before  evening.  When  we  set  out  night  was 
already  far  advanced.  Naturally  I  remarked  that  in  so 
dense  an  obscurity  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  catch 
sight  of  the  game  ;  but  my  friend,  on  the  contrary,  replied 
that  nothing  could  be  easier.  To  this  assertion  I  did  not 
venture  upon  an  answer.  I  could  only  utter  a  mental 
protest,  and  suffer  him  to  guide  me  ;  and  this  is  what  I 
really  did. 

The  American  waggon,  drawn  by  a  robust  horse,  on 
whose  benches  were  installed  the  opossum-hunter,  two  of 
his  friends,  and  myself,  soon  deposited  us  in  the  centre  of 
a  woody  thicket,  and  therein  we  moved  forward  on  foot, 
in  perfect  silence,  preceded  by  a  gigantic  negro,  who 
carried  a  blazing  torch.  Our  two  dogs,  having  discovered 
the  scent  of  an  opossum,  barked  loudly,  and  darted  ahead 
of  us,  guiding  us  quickly  to  the  foot  of  an  old  tree,  which, 
from  every  sign,  we  concluded  to  be  the  retreat  of  our 
wary  game.  I  confess  I  was  much  puzzled  to  know  in 
what  manner  our  'possum-hunter  would  bring  down  this 
patriarchal  oak;  for  he  had  no  hatchet  with  him,  and  the 


HITTING  THE  WRONG  TARGET.  73 

darkness  was  so  great  that  the  torch,  instead  of  illumin- 
ating the  space  above  our  heads,  only  increased  the  ob- 
scurity. The  negro  who  accompanied  us,  having  fixed 
this  same  torch  in  the  ground,  accumulated  at  about 
twenty  feet  distant  from  the  oak  an  enormous  quantity  of 
bushes,  twigs,  and  dead  wood ;  and  having  kindled  the 
pile,  he  sat  himself  down  in  such  a  position  that  the 
trunk  of  the  tree  rose  between  him  and  the  blazing  mass. 
At  a  signal  which  he  gave  me,  I  placed  myself  by  his 
side,  awaiting  with  anxiety  the  explanation  of  these 
mysterious  preparations.  The  pile  flung  all  around  the 
glare  of  a  crackling,  leaping  flame ;  and  our  eyes,  soon 
growing  accustomed  to  it,  distinguished  the  boughs  of  the 
tree  as  plainly  as  if  they  were  outlined  upon  an  illumin- 
ated horizon. 

*^  Now,"  exclaimed  the  opossum-hunter,  "  the  animal  is 
ours  !  Look  above  you,  near  that  knotty  branch  which 
is  curved  like  a  bent  arm ;  do  you  see  a  black  object 
moving  ?     What  may  it  heV^ 

And,  at  the  same  instant,  a  rifle-shot  brought  down  at 
our  feet  an  enormous  branch,  which  the  negro  picked  up, 
his  sides  shaking  with  violent  laughter. 

"  What  a  blockhead  I  am !"  cried  our  hunter,  as  he  re- 
loaded his  gun. 

Paying  no  attention  to  the  grimaces  of  his  negro,  or  to 
the  smile  which  hovered  on  my  lips,  he  again  examined 
very  carefully  the  branches  of  the  tree.  Twice  more  did 
he  discharge  his  rifle  without  result ;  but  the  fourth  time, 
a  prolonged  howl,  similar  to  that  of  a  pig,  uttered  by  the 
object  which  fell  in  front  of  us,  was  followed  by  a  re- 
sounding hurrah.  An  enormous  opossum  was  struggling 
in  convulsions  of  agony  ;  and  the  negro,  delicately  taking 


74 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


"he  again  examined  very  carefully  the  branches  of  the  tree." 


it  up  by  the  tail,  rekindled  his  torch  with  a  brand  from 
the  flickering  fire,  to  light  us  on  our  way  home,  where, 


COLONEL  CROCKETT.  75 

seated  around  a  well-spread  board,  and  stimulated  by 
some  glasses  of  excellent  wine,  we  congratulated  the 
skilful  inventor  of  the  opossum-hunt  upon  his  important 
discovery. 

During  a  residence  in  Philadelphia,  in  1845,  I  became 
acquainted  with  that  celebrated  ^^  original,"  Colonel  David 
Crockett,  whom  his  compatriots  had  raised  to  the  rank 
of  commander  of  the  national  guard  of  that  city.  This 
thorough  American,  among  other  manias,  cherished  the 
notion  that  he  was  a  second  Eobin  Hood.  He  was  wont 
to  assert  that  he  never  drew  his  trigger  without  hitting 
his  mark.  Hair  or  feather,  nothing  escaj^ed  his  eagle 
eye. 

One  of  his  friends,  introducing  me  on  a  certain  evening 
to  the  Philadelphian  Nimrod,  said,  in  his  presence, — 

^^  You  see  our  good  friend  David?  Well,  his  accuracy 
of  sight  is  such,  that  when  he  goes  hunting  in  the  woods, 
if  an  opossum  perceives  him,  he  raises  his  paw  as  a  sign 
for  him  to  wait  a  moment  before  firing. 

"  ^  Is  it  you.  Colonel  Crockett  1 '  says  the  terrified 
'possum. 

'' '  Yes.' 

"  '  Then,  in  that  case,  I'll  just  come  down.  Wait  for 
me.  I  know  I'm  a  dead  'possum,  and  that  I  have  no 
chance  of  escaping  you.' 

"  And  the  opossum  is  as  good  as  his  word.  He  de- 
scends the  tree,  and  crawls  to  the  feet  of  Colonel  Crockett, 
who  delicately  gives  him  a  back-handed  stroke  on  his 
neck,  and  pitches  him  into  his  game-bag." 

At  this  eulogistic  stretch  of  ^Hhe  long-bow,"  David 
Crockett  laughed ;  but  he  took  care  not  to  contradict  it. 


76  THE  colonel's  secret. 

One  day  tlie  colonel,  who  had  conceived  a  great  friend- 
ship for  me,  meeting  me  in  Chestnut  Street,  invited  me 
to  accompany  him  on  a  'possum-hunt. 

"  Willingly,"  I  replied.  '^  But  whither  will  you  take 
me  ?     Must  we  go  any  distance  ? " 

"  Oh  no,"  he  answered ;  ^^  we  shall  hunt  along  the 
bank  of  the  Delaware,  about  ten  miles  from  Philadel- 
phia, and  we  shall  set  out  this  evening." 

I  accepted  the  invitation  immediately,  for  I  was  curious 
to  see  whether  Colonel  Crockett's  skill  had  been  overrated. 

I  pass  over  the  details  of  our  journey,  which  we  accom- 
plished in  a  light  waggon,  guided  by  a  mulatto  ;  the  said 
mulatto  never  ceasing  to  whistle  from  the  moment  we 
quitted  Philadelphia  to  the  moment  of  our  arrival  at 
Mac-  Cortib-Dam. "' 

Early  in  the  morning,  my  American  Nimrod,  myself, 
and  Dolly,  our  mulatto,  began  the  hunt.  A  couple  of 
first-rate  terriers  frolicked  in  front  of  us.  Suddenly  one 
of  them  gave  tongue,  the  other  replied,  and  after  pushing 
forward  a  short  distance  into  the  brushwood,  they  started 
an  opossum,  who  with  one  bound  jumped  upon  the 
branch  of  a  beech-tree,  and  from  thence  clambered  to  its 
topmost  bough.  Colonel  Crockett  took  aim;  I  allowed 
him  to  do  so,  holding  myself  ready  to  fire  if  he  should 
miss  ;  but,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  I  saw  the  opossum 
tumble,  though  no  report  reached  my  ears. 

I  was  about  to  interrogate  the  colonel,  but  with  his  hand 
he  signed  to  me  not  to  speak.  The  dogs  had  just  roused 
a  second  'possum,  who  resorted  to  the  same  stratagem  as 
his  unfortunate  predecessor.  In  my  turn  I  prepared  to 
fire,  but  my  comrade,  who  had  shouldered  his  gun  before 

*  So  spelt  in  the  original 


^'thereby  hangs  a  tail  !"  7T 

me,  again  brought  down  liis  game  without  a  sound ;  it 
fell  at  my  feet,  dropping  from  branch  to  branch  until  it 
reached  the  ground. 

I  could  keep  silent  no  longer,  for  I  was  at  a  loss  to 
understand  how  the  colonel  brought  down  his  opossums 
without  firing  a  shot,  though  going  through  all  the 
manoeuvres  of  raising  his  gun,  taking  aim,  and  pulling 
the  trigger. 

"Are  you  a  magician,  my  dear  sir  '? "  said  I. 

"  I  *?  You  are  joking  !  You  don't  think  so,"  and  with- 
out another  word,  he  put  his  gun  in  my  hand.  It  was  an 
air-gun  !  The  mystery  was  solved ;  I  had  before  me  the 
key  of  the  enigma. 

Shakespeare  has  somewhere  written  the  following 
hemistich,  which — I  have  alway  believed  so  since  I  held 
in  my  hand  the  first  opossum  killed  before  my  eyes  ! — 
refers  to  this  extraordinary  mammal :  "  Thereby  hangs 
a  tail ! "  And,  certainly,  the  appendage  has  not  its  match 
under  the  roof  of  heaven.  About  fifteen  inches  in  length, 
black,  and  without  hair,  it  is  of  great  service  to  the 
opossum  in  climbing  trees,  and  he  holds  himself  sus- 
pended by  it  to  a  branch,  while  watching  for  the  prey  on 
which  he  feeds.  Nothing  is  more  curious  than  to  see  an 
opossum  balancing  in  this  fashion,  either  for  amusement, 
or  during  sleep ;  as  if,  to  preserve  or  abandon  his 
position,  he  has  only  to  say,  *I  will,'  or,  Hhis  suits  me.' 
So  great  is  the  strength  of  this  natural  attachment,  that 
you  may  kill  the  animal,  without  his  weighing  anchor 
from  the  tree  to  which  he  hung  suspended.  Even  when 
the  head  has  been  struck  ofi*  with  a  discharge  of  deer-shot, 
the  body  will  preserve  its  clinging  position  until  devoured 
by  birds  of  prey. 


78  A  METHODIST  SERMON. 

A  Methodist  preacher,  who,  obeying  the  precept  of  the 
apostles,  went  from  village  to  village,  and  hamlet  to 
hamlet,  exhorting  his  Christian  brethren  to  think  of 
eternity,  was  pronouncing,  one  evening,  a  diffuse  inter- 
minable discourse,  when,  desirous  of  enforcing  his  ad- 
vice to  his  hearers  to  remain  constant  in  good  works,  he 
compared  the  true  Christian  to  an  opossum  suspended 
by  his  tail  to  the  summit  of  a  fir-tree  shaken  by  a  violent 
tempest  ! 

**  Yes,  my  brothers,"  he  cried,  "  such  is  your  image : 
the  wind,  whose  violence  might  tear  you  away  from  that 
Tree  of  the  Gospel  on  which  you  rely  for  salvation,  is 
formed  by  the  gathering  of  the  corrupt  breath  of  the  world, 
the  passions,  and  the  devil.  Do  not  let  go !  Hold  firm,  like 
the  opossum  during  the  storm  !  If  the  fore-feet  of  your 
passions  abandon  their  mainstay,  hold  on  with  the  hind- 
feet  of  your  conscience  ;  and,  finally,  if  this  support  should 
fail  you  also,  there  remains  one  last  grappling-iron  which 
shall  be  your  safety,  and  by  whose  means  you  may  join 
the  saints  of  heaven,  who  have  persevered  to  the  end." 

Considered  as  game,  the  opossum  is  esteemed  by  many 
people  a  dainty  dish.  In  taste  it  is  not  unlike  tender 
pork,  except  that  it  has  a  somewhat  wilder  flavour. 

To  cook  it,  the  Indians  suspend  it  by  its  long  tail  to  a 
stick,  and  take  care  to  keep  it  constantly  turned. 

Although  the  flesh  cannot  be  pronounced  itneatahle,  I 
must  confess  that  when  I  first  tasted  it,  I  found  it  im- 
possible to  eat  anything  afterwards,  I  had  been  so  over- 
come by  the  odour  and  savour  of  musk.  But  the  second 
time  my  teeth  came  in  contact  with  opossum  meat,  I  was 
less  fastidious.     The  dish  had  been  prepared,  I  must  own, 


A  DISH  FOR  A  GOURMAND. 


79 


by  the  negi'oes,  who,  as  a  nile,  are  excellent  cooks,  and 
especially  so  when  they  are  cooking  on  their  own  account. 
And  this  is  how  they  proceed  when  preparing  a  plump 
and  juicy  opossum.  They  put  it  into  a  large  iron 
pot,  on  a  layer  of  sweet  potatoes,  and  above  it  they  spread 
a  similar  layer ;  the  mess  is  seasoned  with  Cayenne 
pepper,  and,  to  increase  the  gravy,  one  or  two  spoonfuls 
of  hog's  lard  is  added ;  the  whole  simmei'S  for  about  five 
hours,  and  is  served  up  hot. 

Thus  prepared,  the  meat  is  delicious,  and  I  know  of 
nothing,  in  fact,  more  succulent  or  strengthening.  And, 
for  this  reason,  I  advise  all  our  modern  gourmands  to  go 
and  taste  it  for  themselves  ! 

I  am  confident  they  will  pronounce  the  dish  well  worth 
the  trouble  of  a  voyage  to  the  United  States. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 


THE    RACOON. 


WAS  travelling  in  Kentucky,  towards  the 
close  of  autumn.  A  farmer  in  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  Rialton, — a  small  town  situated 
at  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains, — 
to  whom  I  brought  a  letter  of  recommendation,  had 
kindly  offered  me  his  hospitality.  I  had  arrived  in  the 
evening,  frozen,  half-dead,  and  with  the  cold  penetrating 
to  the  marrow  of  my  bones.  The  temperature  had  sunk 
quite  suddenly,  thanks  to  whirlwinds  of  sleety  rain,  im- 
pelled by  a  violent  gale  from  the  north.  The  cold  was 
very  severe ;  but  the  unexpected  change  had  not  taken 
Mr.  Danielson,  my  host,  by  surprise ;  for  the  wood- 
stacks  which  rose  on  either  side  of  his  house  might  well 
have    kept    alive    the    hearths   of   ten   families.     Wood, 


FACTS  ABOUT  THE  RACOON.  81 

however,  as  you  will  readily  believe,  is  by  no  means  rare 
in  Kentucky  forests,  and  the  inhabitants  are  not  slothful 
in  handling  the  axe. 

The  sun  had  disappeared  about  two  hours  behind  the 
horizon  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  and  all  the  family 
of  the  Danielsons  were  seated  before  a  blazing  fire,  con- 
versing on  those  subjects  most  likely  to  interest  and 
amuse  people  dwelling  in  a  wild  region,  in  the  centre  of 
a  wooded  country.  The  talk  was  all  about  clearings,  and 
cultivated  lands,  and  plantations,  and  the  ravages  com- 
mitted and  still  being  committed  by  malicious  beasts  and 
malignant  birds  in  the  poultry-yard ;  and  the  havoc 
effected  in  the  barley-field  and  the  maize-field  by  crows 
and  ravens,  gray  squirrels  and  racoons. 

"  Above  all,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Danielson,  '^  the  racoons 
are  the  most  terrible  robbers  I  have  ever  met  with. 
What  gluttons  !  What  thieves  !  The  first-fruits  of  our 
harvest  fall  entirely  to  them,  and  the  first  juicy  shoots 
of  maize  will  attract  them  from  a  distance  of  several 
miles.  Woe  to  them  if  they  come  within  range  of  our 
rifles  !  As  some  compensation  for  what  they  have  plun- 
dered, they  leave  us  then  their  skin,  which  is  very 
useful  as  a  lining  for  our  garments,  and  their  flesh,  which 
makes  a  capital  stew !  In  our  neighbourhood  they  abound, 
and  on  a  night  as  bright  as  this  a  racoon-hunt  is  a  thing 
not  to  be  despised.  We  rarely  return  to  the  farm  with 
our  game-bags  empty.  It  is  an  amusement,  my  dear  sir, 
which  we  will  ask  you  to  share  with  us,  if  you  are  so 
inclined,  on  the  first  opportunity." 

"  Why  not  this  evening,  then  '^ "  I  replied.  "  I  am  not 
so  fatigued,  after  the  excellent  supper  you  have  set  befox'O 
me,  but  that  I  can  accompany  you  in  the  chase," 

(414)  5 


82 


'^  ALL  HANDS  MAKE  READY  ! 


PLA.CED  HIS  TRUMPET  TO  HIS  LIPS. 


^'  I  am  afraid,"  said  the 
farmer,  ^^  you  may  suffer 
severely  from  the  cold  and 
sleet—" 

^*  Be  under  no  alarm,  my 
dear  sir;  I  am  at  your 
orders." 

"  Then  we  will  start  this 
evening;  all  hands  make 
ready ! "  And  without  more 
ado,  Mr.  Danielson  took 
down  a  couple  of  rifles  slung 
to  a  magnificent  pair  of 
antlers  which  adorned  the 
chimney  panel,  and  wiping 
them  with  a  bit  of  greased 
cloth, — a  precaution  almost 
useless  with  weapons  kept 
in  such  admirable  condition, 
— he  loaded  them  with  all 
the  caution  peculiar  to  a 
Kentucky  hunter.  Then, 
seizing  a  bull's  horn,  en- 
circled with  a  silver  mouth- 
piece, which  hung  to  the 
lower  branch  of  the  antlers, 
he  opened  a  door  leading  out 
into  the  courtyard,  advanced 
a  few  steps,  placed  his  primi- 
tive trumpet  to  his  lips,  and 
blowing  with  all  the  strength 
of  his   lungs,  drew  from  it 


AWAY  TO  THE  FOREST.  83 

sounds  capable,  like  the  horn  of  Astolphiis,  of  putting  to 
flight  an  army. 

All  this  had  passed  without  a  word  being  uttered,  but 
iny  host,  now  turning  towards  me,  explained,  that  his 
horrible  tintamarre  was  designed  to  frighten  the  racoons 
who  were  foraging  in  the  maize-fields,  and  whom  the 
unwonted  sounds  would  frighten  back  to  the  woods  in 
all  haste. 

"  It  is  in  the  forest,  my  friend,"  continued  Mr.  Daniel- 
son,  ^'  that  we  must  wage  war  against  them,  and  not  in 
the  middle  of  my  corn  and  maize,  where  we  and  the  dogs 
would  do  more  injury  in  half  an  hour  than  all  the 
racoons  of  the  country  in  a  twelvemonth." 

While  we  were  thus  conversing,  Mr.  Danielson's  two 
sons  had  hastened  to  the  kennel  and  released  the  dogs ; 
a  negro,  my  host's  favourite  domestic,  had  lighted  a  torch 
of  resin  to  assist  our  progress  through  the  wood ;  each  of 
us  was  provided  with  a  well-tempered  and  keen-edged 
axe ;  and  we  set  out  in  the  following  order  :  the  negro  in 
advance,  whistling  and  leaping — Mr.  Danielson's  two 
sons  as  the  main  body — my  host  and  myself  bringing  up 
the  rear. 

The  farmer's  sons,  however,  soon  outstripped  the  negro, 
whose  pace  was  neither  as  light  nor  as  swift  as  theirs. 

^'  Trust  to  me,  my  dear  friend,"  said  Mr.  Danielson, 
"  and  let  the  two  scatterbrains  push  on  ahead  ;  they  will 
be  compelled  to  wait  for  us,  after  all,  when  once  they 
have  gained  the  rendezvous.  Pay  attention  to  all  the 
obstacles  in  the  path,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  keep  exactly 
in  my  footsteps.  The  road  is  not  one  of  the  most  prac- 
ticable; take  care  that  you  do  not  trip  yourself  up 
against  any  old  root  or  stump,  or  get  entangled  in  the 


84  A  RACOON  DESCKIBED. 

lianas  which  droop  from  the  branches  overhead.  Don't 
be  afraid  of  the  rattlesnakes,  though  they  abound  in  our 
neighbourhood  ;  for  they  are  so  benumbed  with  the  cold, 
you  might  kick  them  without  any  danger.  Hallo  ! 
mind  what  you  are  about  !  You  are  carrying  your  rifle 
so  awkwardly,  that  a  bullet  will  go  right  through  my 
head  if  a  twig  should  happen  to  catch  in  your  trigger  ! 
Dolly  ! "  he  shouted  to  his  domestic,  "  come  here,  you 
rascal !  Bring  the  light.  Cannot  you  see  that  this 
stranger  is  unaccustomed  to  night  excursions  in  a  Ken- 
tucky forest  V 

In  fact,  while  their  father  was  employing  all  the 
necessary  precautions  to  spare  me  a  painful  fall  in  the 
midst  of  the  obstacles  of  a  woodland  path,  the  young 
people  had  taken  the  lead,  guided  by  the  barking  of  the 
dogs,  who  had  surprised  a  racoon  in  an  isolated  bush, 
and  hemmed  him  in  with  remarkable  instinct?  When 
we  came  up  with  them,  the  animal  was  dead.  The  eldest 
of  Mr.  Danielson's  sons  had  stunned  him  with  a  blow 
from  a  stick. 

I  halted,  naturally,  to  examine  at  leisure  the  strange 
quadruped,  which  I  then  saw  for  the  first  time.  He  was 
about  the  size  of  a  fox,  with  this  distinction,  that  his 
body  was  larger  and  more  compact.  Like  the  snout  of 
the  vulpes  of  France,  that  of  the  racoon  was  narrow  and 
pointed,  the  head  enlarged  on  the  side  of  the  temples. 
What  distinguished  him  from  a  fox  was  his  ears.  These 
were  very  differently  shaped,  and  gave  the  animal  a 
physiognomy  wholly  unlike  that  of  his  congener.  His 
tail  was  bushier,  and  divided  into  bands  of  brown  and 
black.  The  fore-legs  were  shorter  than  the  hind,  so  that, 
when  standing  on  all  fours,  the  racoon  was  more  elevated 


AN  UNPLEASANT  ROAD.  85 

behind  than  in  front,  and  consequently  his  back  was 
arched.  A  racoon,  when  walking,  places  on  the  ground 
simply  the  ball  of  his  feet,  like  the  dog;  it  is  only  when  he 
is  at  rest  that  he  supports  himself  with  his  claws.  Owing 
to  this  point  dfappui  he  is  able  to  move  his  body  in  a 
manner  at  once  vertical  and  oblique,  a  faculty  which  is 
peculiar  to  him  as  well  as  to  the  squirrel.  It  is  with  his 
fore-feet  that  a  racoon  carries  his  food  to  his  mouth,  and 
keeps  it  within  reach  of  his  teeth.  The  racoon's  fur  is  of 
a  reddish-brown  on  the  sides,  shaded  with  black  over  the 
loins,  and  nearly  white  under  the  belly.  The  ears  are 
black,  as  well  as  the  tip  of  the  snout,  while  the  cheeks 
are  of  a  bright  red.  From  this  description  the  reader 
will  see  that  he  is  an  animal  of  a  singular  aspect,  who 
well  deserves  the  digression  which  I  have  made  in  my 
narrative. 

To  my  hunting  companions  in  the  forests  of  Kentucky 
I  hasten  to  return. 

Mr.  Danielson's  dogs  had  come  upon  a  new  scent,  and 
started  in  pursuit  of  it ;  without  the  slightest  hesitation, 
they  followed  a  path  through  the  forest,  and  we  kept  in 
their  track  as  best  we  could,  fighting  with  lianas,  and 
brambles,  and  sharp-leaved  shrubs.  The  road  was  fully 
as  bad  as  my  host  had  indicated.  At  length  we  arrived 
in  a  marshy  locality,  where  the  ground  was  so  miry  that 
we  stumbled  at  every  footstep.  At  one  time  I  fell  against 
the  trunk  of  a  prostrate  tree;  at  another,  a  bramble 
threatened  the  equilibrium  of  my  hat  and  glasses  ;  next, 
when  I  least  expected  it,  I  was  brought  to  a  complete 
stand.  My  foot,  or  rather  my  boot,  had  sunk  into  a  hole 
formed  by  a  couple  of  roots  shaped  like  bootjacks,  and  I 
was  unable  to  extricate  myself,  until  my  companions  had 


86  THE  DOG  VERSUS  RACOON. 

plied  their  axes  lustily.  But  for  their  help  I  should  have 
been  held  by  the  foot  as  firmly  as  ever  was  Milo  of 
Crotona  by  the  hand.  Should  I  have  experienced  a 
similar  fate  to  that  of  the  famous  athlete  1  I  cannot  say ; 
but  if  I  did  not  fear  the  racoons,  I  should  have  been 
afraid  of  being  devoured  by  the  cayeutes,  and  bitten  by 
rattlesnakes  in  spite  of  the  cold. 

But  this  ludicrous  incident,  instead  of  discouraging  me, 
had,  on  the  contrary,  reanimated  my  ardour.  We  re- 
sumed our  march,  and,  not  without  tripping  at  every 
step,  arrived  on  the  brink  of  a  bayou,  into  whose  mud 
and  slime  the  racoon  had  penetrated  to  save  himself  from 
the  murderous  teeth  of  the  dogs.  Thanks  to  the  glare  of 
Dolly's  torch,  we  soon  "  sighted  "  the  animal  crouching 
in  the  midst  of  the  mud,  which  reached  up  to  his  belly, 
his  hair  bristling,  and  his  tail  so  swollen  that  you  might 
almost  have  sworn  it  was  the  caudal  appeiidage  of  a 
very  large  wolf.  His  mouth  was  white  with  foam,  his 
eyes  flashed  flame  and  fire,  and,  without  losing  sight  of 
any  of  the  dogs'  movements,  he  held  himself  ready  to 
seize  by  the  nose  the  first  who  ventured  near  him.  The 
dogs  were  afraid  to  close,  and  limited  themselves  to  a 
few  feints  of  attack,  with  the  result  their  instinct  taught 
them  to  expect,  of  fatiguing  the  beleaguered  animal. 
He  soon  manifested  unequivocal  symptoms  of  weariness. 
Though  he  miauled  more  loudly  and  more  vehemently 
than  ever,  our  dogs,  without  suffering  themselves  to  be 
intimidated  by  the  frightful  noise,  which  was  :|;epeated 
by  all  the  echoes  of  the  forest,  began  to  pen  him  in  more 
narrowly.  One  of  them,  bolder  than  the  others,  con- 
trived to   seize   his  tail ;    but   a  sharp  bite  forced  him 


THE  BITER  BIT. 


87 


THE  DOGS  WERE  AFRAID  TO  CLOSE. 


to  let  go.  A  second  attacked  him  in  the  flank  with 
equal  want  of  success.  The  biter,  in  fact,  was  bit ;  for 
the  racoon  seized  his  muzzle  between  his  well-armed  jaws, 


88  MOVING  AHEAD. 

and  held  the  poor  dog,  who  howled  terribly,  without  ven- 
turing on  the  slightest  effort  to  release  himself. 

The  racoon  now  appeared  to  think  the  victory  was 
his.  With  an  expression  of  joy  he  anticipated  his  re- 
venge ;  but,  suddenly,  the  other  dogs,  perceiving  they 
had  nothing  further  to  dread  from  his  bites,  sprang  simul- 
taneously upon  him,  and  worried  him  after  a  struggle  of 
about  ten  minutes.  The  racoon,  however,  had  not  loosed 
his  hold,  and  even  in  his  last  bitter  moments  retained 
his  prisoner  with  his  teeth,  until,  at  length,  one  of  Mr. 
Danielson's  sons  split  his  head  with  a  blow  from  a  hatchet. 

So  far  our  adventure  had  been  successful.  We  had 
already  captured  two  racoons,  whose  skins  would  be 
worth  about  a  dollar  a-piece,  and  the  flesh  about  half  that 
amount,  as  the  negro  Dolly — who  estimated  everything 
by  its  value  in  pence  and  shillings — informed  me. 

I  now  thought — I,  a  poor  European,  unaccustomed  to 
the  fatigue  of  so  protracted  a  hunt — that  we  should 
return  to  the  house,  and  warm  ourselves  at  our  host's 
Are ;  but  the  Messrs.  Danielson  and  their  slave  had  no 
such  intention. 

"  We  have  good  luck,  my  friend,"  cried  the  farmer, 
"  and  let  us  make  the  best  of  it ;  move  ahead  ! " 

The  hounds  had  already  resumed  their  course,  and 
soon  they  winded  another  beast,  who,  darting  forward, 
hastened  to  scale  the  trunk  of  a  great  tree.  When  we 
arrived  at  its  foot, — it  was  a  tulip-tree, — all  the  dogs, 
seated  on  their  hind-legs,  with  their  heads  in  the  air, 
were  barking  furiously. 

Dolly,  assisted  by  Mr.  Danielson's  sons,  began,  without 
the    least    delay,  to    fell    the    tree  with    his    lusty    axe. 


A  TRIAD  OF  RACOONS.  89 

Splinters  of  wood  flew  in  all  directions,  and  nearly  blinded 
me.  Happily,  I  escaped  with  nothing  worse  than  the 
loss  of  one  of  the  glasses  of  my  spectacles.  In  a  brief 
while  the  tree  cracked,  inclined  on  one  side,  and  finally 
fell  to  the  ground  with  an  awful  crash. 

By  great  St.  Hubert !  we  found  perched  on  its  branches 
— not  a  single  victim,  but  three  plump  racoons  !  One  of 
them,  a  cunning  fellow,  had  not  awaited  the  fall  of  the 
tulip-tree  before  springing  to  the  earth  ;  the  two  others 
sought  refuge  in  the  cavities  of  the  trunk,  but  were  un- 
kennelled in  a  moment.  The  two  young  men  undertook 
their  capture,  while  their  father  and  I  followed  one  of 
the  dogs,  who  raced  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive,  filling  the 
air  with  his  voice.  We  had  to  deal  with  an  old  racoon, 
whose  head  was  full  of  stratagems,  and  our  chase,  there- 
fore, occupied  us  some  time.  However,  I  had  the  good 
luck  to  sight  him  as  he  crossed  a  clearing  in  the  wood, 
and  taking  a  steady  aim,  I  sent  a  ball  through  his  skull. 
He  rolled  over  and  over  for  a  few  seconds,  and  then  lay 
still.     He  was  of  an  unusual  size. 

My  host's  sons  had  experienced  no  difficulty  in  catch- 
ing their  racoons.  To  kindle  some  brushwood,  to  smoke 
out  the  burrow  so  infelicitously  selected  by  the  animals, 
to  watch  for  their  unwilling  emergence,  and  knock  them 
down  with  a  stick,  was  the  work  of  some  fifteen  mi- 
nutes ;  the  victims  were  stretched  prone  upon  the  earth 
when  we  rejoined  our  hunters  and  the  dogs,  who  had 
grouped  themselves  round  the  waning  fire. 

The  moon  had  risen,  and  its  silver  light  flooded  the 
mysterious  glades  of  the  forest.  It  was  just  the  time 
for  a  successful  hunt ;  and  we  pressed  forward  as  swiftly 
as  the  obstacles  of  the  path  permitted,  ever  and  anon 


90  A  hunter's  appetite. 

bestowing  a  searching  glance  among  the  boughs  above 
us,  in  case  a  racoon  should  be  sleeping  on  his  perch. 

At  last  I  discovered  one,  defined  like  a  black  spot 
against  the  moonlit  sky,  and,  aiming  quickly,  I  brought 
him  down  with  the  first  shot. 

My  comrades  likewise  found  an  opportunity  of  proving 
their  skill,  and  it  is  impossible  to  say  how  long  we  might 
have  continued  our  sport,  if  our  stomachs  had  not  re- 
minded us  that  a  good  supper  waited  us  at  the  farm. 

As  you  may  suppose,  we  did  justice  to  the  repast  pre- 
pared by  Mrs.  Danielson  and  her  charming  daughter. 
It  was  truly  a  pleasant  sight  to  see  four  sharp-set  hunters 
devouring  huge  slices  of  smoked  peccary  ham,  muffins, 
maize  cakes  soaked  in  cream  as  thick  as  butter,  and 
potatoes  sweet  as  sugar  roasted  in  the  ashes.  Nor  must 
I  pass  over  in  silence  a  racoon-stew,  which  old  Dolly  had 
hastened  to  prepare,  with  all  the  needful  seasoning.  My 
companions  found  it  exquisite,  and  through  politeness, 
and  a  wish  not  to  wound  the  cook's  feelings,  I  thought 
myself  obliged,  though  with  secret  reluctance,  to  taste 
the  steaming  dish.  It  was  with  an  effort  I  did  not 
reject  the  only  morsel  I  carried  to  my  lips;  and — I  confess 
it  in  all  humility — my  epicurism  to  this  day  prefers  a  slice 
of  beef  to  the  leg  of  a  stewed  racoon  !  I  would  rather 
see  the  animal  clinging  to  a  branch  than  smoking  in  a 
dish  !       . 

Next  day,  Dolly  made  it  a  pleasure  and  a  duty  to  skin 
all  the  racoons,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in  this  opera- 
tion, I  learned  from  his  own  mouth  the  following  details 
in  reference  to  their  habits  : — 


AN  INTELLIGENT  RACOON.  91 

"  Yes,  massa,"  he  said,  "  the  racoon  is  as  intelligent  as 
a  monkey,  and  is  very  easily  tamed.  Some  three  years 
ago  I  brought  up  one,  who  played  with  me  like  a  little 
dog,  clambered  on  my  knees,  and  thrust  his  head  into 
my  waistcoat  pockets  to  see  if  they  contained  a  titbit  for 
him.  I  was  always  very  careful  to  keep  the  door  of  the 
poultry-yard  shut,  or  the  little  rascal  would  have  stolen 
my  eggs ;  for,  d'ye  see,  massa,  it  is  his  instinct  to  plunder 
the  nests  of  the  quail,  the  partridge,  and  all  other  kinds 
of  birds.  No  quadruped  is  more  cunning  in  discovering 
the  trees  where  the  nests  are  built.  One  day  when  my 
racoon  had  left  the  house,  I  found  him  on  the  tall  poplar- 
tree  which  stands  yonder  at  the  end  of  the  lawn.  The 
rascal,  with  the  help  of  his  paws,  had  extracted  from  a 
hole  in  the  trunk  some  young  woodpeckers,  and  greedily 
devoured  them,  while  the  distracted  mother  was  hovering 
above  his  head.  He  was  also  very  fond  of  fresh-water 
mussels,  and  was  particularly  clever  in  hunting  for  them 
in  the  mud.  Tortoise  eggs  he  considered  a  great  treat ; 
his  instinct  for  tracing  the  creature's  humid  track  was 
something  wonderful.  Once — O  massa  !  see  what  an  in- 
telligent vermin  he  was  ! — I  found  him  lying  flat  on  his 
belly  close  to  the  edge  of  a  pond,  near  which  he  and  I 
had  passed  in  our  wanderings  on  the  previous  day ;  he 
had  concealed  himself  in  a  heap  of  reeds,  and  seemed 
to  sleep  like  a  marmot.  A  flock  of  wild  ducks  floated 
upon  the  water,  and  approached  the  shore  without  any 
mistrust.  Suddenly  my  racoon  took  a  leap  and  a 
jump,  I  might  almost  say  a  flight,  and  pounced  upon 
one  of  the  largest  and  fattest  members  of  the  winged 
troop. 

''  The  only  fault  I  had  to  find  with  him  was  that  he  did 


92 


AN  EVIL  PROPENSITY. 


"he  pounced  upon  one  of  the  largest  of  the  winged  troop." 

not  respect  the  inhabitants  of  our  poultry-yard.  In  this 
matter  his  conduct  was  scarcely  exemplary.  He  only  stole 
the  eggs — when  he  got  the  chance.  Besides  the  dainties 
to  which  he  thus  helped  himself  occasionally,  my  racoon 
fed  upon  maize  boiled  in  water,  over  which  I  poured 
some  fresh  milk  when  I  wished  to  give  him  a  treat. 
Alas  !  the  poor  beast  died   the  victim  of  his  gluttony. 


STANDING  AT  BAY.  93 

lie  swallowed  a  rabbit  whole,   one  fine   morning — yes, 
liair  and  flesh  and  bones — like  a  boa  constrictor  ! " 

And  thus  speaking,  Master  Dolly  shed  a  tear  of  regret, 
while  his  vast  mouth  gave  utterance  to  a  succession  of 
yah^  yah,  yahs  !  followed  by  a  couple  of  pshou — pshous ! 
stereotyped  in  the  mouth  of  every  negro  who  laughs. 

I  shall  finish  this  chapter — too  long  already,  I  fear,  for 
the  comfort  of  my  readers — by  relating  three  incidents  of 
a  racoon-hunt,  which  I  once  witnessed  in  the  United 
States. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Charleston  I  was  traversing, 
one  morning,  the  plantations  of  my  friend  Mr.  Elliot, 
followed  by  two  dogs,  Kover  and  Black.  They  started  a 
racoon,  which  took  refuge  in  a  bush  growing  against  a 
precipitous  rock, — a  natural  rampart, — some  forty  to  fifty 
feet  in  height.  Involved  in  a  cul-de-sac,  from  which 
escape  was  impossible,  the  racoon  determined  on  giving 
battle.  All  on  a  sudden  he  sprang  into  a  narrow  space, 
left  clear  by  the  thorny  vegetation  which  flourished  I'ound 
the  rock.  Seating  himself  boldly  on  his  hind-quarters,  he 
placed  himself  in  the  position  of  a  boxer  ready  to  ward 
ofi*  the  blows  of  his  adversary.  Black,  his  hair  bristling, 
•his  mouth  open,  and  foaming  with  rage,  advanced  alone 
agabist  the  quadruped,  towering  above  him  in  size,  and 
holding  him,  as  it  were,  in  check.  A  pause  of  a  few 
seconds  took  place,  during  which  four  eyes  devoured  one 
another,  and  cast  that  phosphorescent  gleam  so  surely  in- 
dicative of  animal  rage. 

At  length  Black  pounced  upon  the  racoon-,  and  seized 
him  by  the  chest,  while  his  antagonist  darted  his  sharp 


94  MASTER  tommy's  EXPLOITS. 

teeth  into  the  dog's  shoulder.  Black,  though  badly- 
wounded,  uttered  not  a  cry ;  but  flinging  the  racoon 
down  upon  the  ground,  pressed  him  against  a  stone  until 
he  choked  him.  Rover,  though  somewhat  tardy,  had 
hastened  to  the  assistance  of  his  comrade,  but  too  late  to 
be  of  any  service. 

Six  months  after  this  adventure  I  was  staying  with 
one  of  my  friends  at  Beaufort  Farm,  near  the  Colombia, 
in  South  Carolina.  Here  I  was  introduced  to  a  young 
racoon,  whom  the  overseer  had  caught  in  a  burrow  a  few 
days  after  his  birth. 

When  I  made  his  acquaintance  he  was  about  two 
months  old,  and  allowed  to  run  free  in  the  house ;  had 
lived  like  a  young  kitten,  playing  with  the  negro  children, 
who  called  him  Tommy,  licking  the  plates  and  dishes  in 
the  kitchen,  and  stealing  from  time  to  time  a  bit  of  meat, 
a  flsh,  a  morsel  of  lard.  On  different  occasions  it  was 
remarked  that  Master  Tommy  glided  near  the  young 
chickens,  ducklings,  and  other  poultry,  and  tried  the 
strength  of  his  claws  upon  their  feathers.  Far  from 
encouraging  this  natural  instinct,  my  friend's  overseer 
passed  a  cord  through  the  ring  of  his  collar,  attaching  the 
other  extremity  to  a  tolerably  heavy  log;  so  that  it 
would  be  impossible  for  him  to  make  the  slightest  move- 
ment in  the  direction  of  the  poultry. 

During  my  residence  at  Beaufort  Farm,  my  friend  and 
I  were  desirous  of  making  an  experiment  on  the  savage 
temperament  of  the  young  racoon.  We  let  him  loose  in  the 
yard.  As  soon  as  he  thought  no  one  was  watching  him, 
he  began  to  creep  towards  the  corner  where  the  hens  and 
ducks  were  picking  up  their  allowance  of  grain.     The 


NATURE  ASSERTS  HERSELF.  95 

feathered  populace  paid  no  attention  to  this  enemy,  whom 
they  had  long  regarded  as  an  inoffensive  creature — nay, 
almost  as  a  comrade — when  suddenly  he  sprang  on  the 
back  of  an  old  cock,  who,  surprised  by  the  unexpected 
assault,  fluttered  round  the  yard  in  erratic  course,  with 
his  assailant  clinging  to  his  back,  and  dragging  him  and 
his  cord  and  his  log  from  one  side  to  the  other.  The 
whole  poultry-yard  was  in  commotion  ;  and  there  was 
fluttering  to  and  fro,  and  much  clucking  and  clacking 
and  crowing.  Finally,  the  cunning  racoon,  still  astride 
of  his  unwilling  charger,  caught  hold  of  his  head  with 
greedy  teeth,  and  squeezed  it  with  religious  compunction, 
his  eyes  closed  like  those  of  a  devotee ;  then  he  pitilessly 
crushed  and  crunched  it,  without  being  at  all  disconcerted 
by  the  agonizing  convulsions  of  his  victim. 

*'  Chassez  le  naturel,  il  revient  au  galop,"  * 

says  one  of  the  great  French  poets;  and  certainly  the 
racoon  of  Beaufort  Farm  demonstrated  the  truth  of  a 
saying  which  has  become  proverbial. 

Yet  such  a  natural  perversity  could  not,  and  ought 
not  to,  remain  unpunished.  A  council  was  held,  and  a 
decision  arrived  at,  that  Master  Tommy  must  suffer  for 
his  crime,  as  no  extenuating  circumstances  could  be  al- 
leged in  arrest  of  judgment.  Seized  by  a  negro  of  the 
plantation,  he  was  hung  to  a  hickory-tree  in  the  poultry- 
yard,  by  the  very  cord  which  had  been  used  to  restrain 
his  evil  tendencies.  The  cock  was  stewed  and  eaten  for 
supper,  with  a  seasoning  of  red  pepper,  and  a  garniture  of 
boiled  rice.  From  this  last  incident  my  readers  may 
draw  any  inference  they  think  proper. 

*  Try  to  expel  Nature,  and  it  returns  at  a  gallop. 


96  KNOWN  BY  HIS  TAIL. 

I  conclude  with  another  anecdote. 

In  a  cedar  wood,  on  the  bank  of  the  Crow- Nest  River, 
not  far  from  the  famous  military  school  of  West  Point 
(New  York  County),  I  was  hunting,  one  morning,  with  my 

friend  M.  d'O ,  a  distinguished  professor,  well  known 

for  his  eminent  abilities.  Our  pack  of  five  bloodhounds 
had  started  a  racoon,  who,  however,  by  his  speed  and 
cunning,  contrived  to  elude  their  pursuit.  He  disap- 
peared as  if  by  enchantment — winding  round  a  wooden 
bridge  thrown  across  the  foaming  current.  The  pack,  at 
fault,  ran  hither  and  thither,  growling  and  snarling,  and 
quite  at  a  loss  which  way  to  run.  We  stimulated  them 
with  voice  and  gesture.  At  length  we  were  about  to 
quit  the  spot,  when  a  Yankee  peasant,  advancing  to- 
wards us,  proposed  to  deliver  the  fugitive  into  our  hands 
if  we  would  give  him  a  couple  of  dollars  for  his  trouble. 

We  looked  at  one  another,  and,  without  uttering  a 
word,  I  drew  the  coins  from  my  purse,  and  handed  them 
to  the  American. 

*^  There,"  said  he,  "  look  up  in  that  tree,  and  you  may 
see  his  tail  hanging  out  of  yonder  crow's  nest  ! " 

It  was  true.  The  racoon  had  leapt  on  the  parapet  of  the 
bridge ;  from  thence  had  darted  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree ; 
then,  with  the  help  of  his  claws,  had  ascended  to  an  empty 
crow's  nest,  and  concealed  himself  inside  it — forgetting, 
poor  simpleton !  that  his  long  striped  tail  would  betray  the 
asylum  where  he  had  sought  refuge.  Undoubtedly  this 
retreat  must  have  been  familiar  to  him ;  and  everything 
led  us  to  believe  that  he  had  at  one  time  been  the  fell 
murderer  of  the  progeny  of  the  crow.  I  must  add  that  the 
cunning  animal  met  with  no  mercy  at  our  hands,  but  was 
offered  up  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  manes  of  the  young  victims ! 


CHAPTEE  YIL 


THE  SWAN — THE  HERON THE  FALCON. 


N  1844,  at  the  merry  time  of  Twelfth-Night 
festivities,  I  was  at  Louisville,  staying  with 
a  friend  who  had  offered  me  the  most  cordial 
hospitality,  when  one  of  his  sons,  a  skilful 
hunter  and  an  intrepid  amateur  of  sport  (in  the  fullest 
meaning  of  the  word),  proposed  that  I  should  accompany 
him  on  an  excursion  which  he  meditated  along  the  bank 
of  the  Ohio,  to  the  point  where  that  mighty  river  pours 
its  waters  into  the  still  mightier  Mississippi. 

As  soon  as  our  preparations  were  completed,  w^e  set 
out  in  a  keel-hoat ;  that  is,  a  kind  of  shallop,  with  a  small 
steerage  cabin,  and  a  rudder  formed  of  a  slender  trunk, 
like  a  iish's  tail,  to  direct  its  progress.      Two 

(414)  7 


serving, 


98  A  WINTER  LANDSCAPE. 

rowers  in  the  fore  part  of  the  boat  impelled  it  at  the  rate 
of  five  to  six  miles  an  hour. 

Dreary  was  the  aspect  of  the  banks  of  the  Ohio. 
Winter  had  withered  all  the  plants,  and  the  only  ver- 
dure visible  was  that  of  a  few  canes  mingled  with  reddish- 
leaved  lianas.  The  snow  was  falling  thickly,  and  the 
cold  was  as  bitter  as  in  Siberia  or  Kamtschatka ;  but,  at 
daybreak,  the  storm  was  succeeded  by  a  dead  calm.  We 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  small  town  of  Henderson ;  and  already  we  could 
see,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  that  the  extreme  cold 
had  frozen  the  banks  of  the  river,  the  lagoons,  and  jQsh- 
ful  ponds  of  the  countryside  ;  for  the  air  was  darkened 
by  thousands  of  aquatic  birds,  which  passed  and  repassed 
from  one  bank  to  another,  and  spoi^ted  on  outstretched 
wing  over  the  frozen  waters.  Our  boat  was  suffered  to 
drift  into  the  midst  of  the  plumaged  race  ;  and  after  each 
discharge  of  our  guns,  numerous  victims  were  suspended 
to  the  outside  of  our  cabin. 

Thus  amusing  our  leisure  hours,  we  arrived,  on  the 
fourth  day  of  our  voyage,  at  about  six:  miles  from  the 
movith  of  the  Ohio.  This  affluent  of  the  Mississippi 
unites  with  the  ''  Father  of  Waters  "  a  little  below  Creek 
River ;  whose  banks,  overshadowed  with  carob-trees, 
maple-trees,  and  canes,  interlaced  with  lianas  and  nettles, 
offered  to  the  eye  an  impassable  wall,  frequented  by 
hundreds  of  ducks,  teal,  coots,  grebes,  and  water-hens. 
The  cold  had  driven  these  birds  from  the  Polar  regions, 
and  they  had  hastened  to  regions  enjoying  a  milder 
temperature. 


On  a  tongue  of  land  below  the  confluence  of  the  Creek 


MY   INDIAN  COMPANIONS.  99 

and  the  Oliio,  sheltered  by  an  enormous  rock  with  wave- 
worn  base,  a  company  of  Cherokee  Indians  had  pitched 
their  tents  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  their  winter 
supply  of  hickory  nuts,  and  of  hunting  the  bears,  deer, 
and  hares  attracted  to  the  spot,  like  the  Kedskins,  by  its 
abundant  harvest. 

My  companion,  who  spoke  with  tolerable  ease  the 
Cherokee  language,  expressed  a  desire  to  land  near  their 
wigwams  j  and  I  joined  in  his  wish  all  the  more  readily 
that  I  was  very  anxious  to  gain  some  knowledge  of  their 
customs,  as  well  as  to  share  in  their  swan-catching  ex- 
peditions. An  instinctive  sympathy  rapidly  unites  per- 
sons of  the  same  tastes,  whatever  the  nation  to  which 
they  belong.  These  Indians,  partial,  like  myself  and  my 
friend,  to  hunting  and  fishing  and  adventure,  quickly 
surrounded  us ;  and  by  the  evening  we  were  one  and  all 
the  best  friends  in  the  world. 

Next  morning,  at  daybreak,  I  heard  a  great  commotion 
around  our  boat,  and  opening  the  cabin-door,  discovered 
a  dozen  Indians,  both  men  and  women,  launching  in  the 
water  their  large  maple -tree  canoe,  and  making  it  ready 
for  their  transit  into  the  State  of  Indiana. 

My  friend  and  I  obtained  the  favour  of  accompanying 
the  hunters,  and  we  seated  ourselves  in  the  stern  of  the 
boat.  The  women  took  the  oars ;  the  men,  stretched  at 
the  bottom,  tranquilly  finished  their  interrupted  sleep. 

Scarcely  had  we  disembarked  on  the  opposite  bank 
before  the  women,  who  had  securely  moored  the  canoe, 
began  to  seek  for  nuts  ;  while  the  hunters,  directing  their 
course  towards  the  lake,  forced  a  passage  through  the 
cotton-trees,  which  rose  above  our  route  and  delayed  our 
advance.     It  is  impossible  for  any  person  who  has  not 


100  A  RAID  AMONG  THE  SWANS. 

seen  with  his  own  eyes  the  closely-intertangled  thickets 
which  flourish  in  the  marshy  alluvial  lands  of  the  United 
States,  to  form  an  exact  idea  of  the  difficulties  to  be 
surmounted  by  the  hunter  in  pursuit  of  his  favourite 
sport. 

It  is  impossible  to  clear  a  path  by  felling  them ;  all  you 
can  do  is  to  glide,  as  best  you  may,  between  the  looser 
branches,  pushing  them  aside  with  one  hand,  and  with 
the  other  defending  yourself  against  the  mosquitoes, 
which  attack  you  in  compact  battalions,  and  menace  you 
with  a  sting  not  less  venomous  than  a  bee's.  It  was  iii 
the  midst  of  such  impediments,  diversified  by  perilous 
leaps  over  muddy  and  bottomless  swamps,  treacherously 
covered  with  green  confervae,  that  we  reached  the  border 
of  the  lake,  called  *^  Mussel  Shoal." 

What  an  emotion — what  a  surprise  for  an  European 
hunter  !  Before  me  hundreds  of  swans  were  floating, — 
swans  as  white  as  snow ;  swans  with  necks  arched  grace- 
fully above  their  wings ;  swans  with  coiled-up  necks, 
and  rounded  wings,  and  right  leg  extended,  drifting 
slowly  before  a  gentle  breeze,  and  warming  themselves  in 
the  rays  of  the  mid-day  sun.  No  sooner  did  they  catch 
sight  of  us  than  they  retreated  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  lake,  exhibiting  a  not  unnatural  apprehension.  But, 
alas  !  their  flight  was  vain.  So  skilfully  was  the  attack 
of  the  Bedskins  combined,  that,  on  the  other  border  of 
"  Mussel  Shoal,"  they  fell  in  scores  under  the  fire  of  the 
hunters.  Seeking  to  avoid  the  rifles  of  one  party,  they 
came  within  range  of  those  of  another,  and  not  a  shot 
failed  to  find  its  mark. 

My  readers  will  understand  the  delight  I  experienced 


EVENING  IN  THE  CAMP.  101 

in  firing  at  these  magnificent  birds,  whose  blood  tinged 
with  red  the  snowy  whiteness  of  their  wings.  When  the 
slaughter  ceased,  the  number  of  our  victims  amounted  to 
five  and  fifty — floating  on  the  lake,  inert,  their  legs  in 
the  air,  their  head  under  water. 

We  were  occupied  for  an  hour  or  more  in  collecting 
the  dead  game,  and  afterwards,  each  loaded  with  his 
separate  booty,  returned  by  the  same  route  to  the  Indian 
encampment.  Before  night,  all  the  Indians  were  seated 
under  the  skins  of  their  wigwams,  while  my  friend  and 
myself  sought  the  shelter  of  our  cabin. 

However,  on  our  arrival  at  the  camp  the  fire  had  been 
kindled ;  the  evening  repast,  consisting  of  bear's  fat,  dried 
venison,  and  hickory-nuts,  had  been  enjoyed  with  all  the 
relish  of  an  appetite  sharpened  by  fatigue ;  and  each  had 
lain  down  with  his  feet  towards  the  fire  that  sparkled 
and  crackled  in  the  middle  of  our  bivouac.  While  their 
wives,  fathers,  or  brothers  surrendered  themselves  to 
"care-charming  sleep,"  the  Indians,  squatting  on  their 
heels,  stripped  the  swans  of  their  feathers,  and  squeezed 
the  light,  airy  plunder  into  bags  made  of  goat-skin. 
I  watched  their  operations  for  some  time  from  the  glass 
door  of  my  cabin ;  but  at  length  the  need  of  repose  drew 
me  to  my  hammock,  and  it  was  not  very  long  before  I 
slumbered  as  soundly  as  a  child. 

Amidst  such  occupations  as  these  we  spent  a  pleasant 
and  lively  week.  All  the  hickory-nuts  were  gathered; 
the  game,  terrified  by  our  daily  fusillades,  deserted  the 
district ;  and  the  Indians  prepared  for  a  change  of  quarters. 
On  the  morning  of  the  ninth  day  they  collected  their 
spoils,  hauled  down  their  tents,  and  embarked  in  theii' 


102  DAILY  HUNTING  EXPEDITIONS. 

canoes  to  descend  the  Ohio  as  far  as  the  Mississippi,  in 
tending  to  traverse  the  ^'  Father  of  Waters "  on  tlieii 
way  back  to  their  own  prairies. 

We  had  nothing  more  to  do  at  Creek  Kiver,  so  my 
friend  and  I  resolved  to  continue  our  excursion. 

At  daybreak  we  unmoored  our  boat,  and  in  the  even 
ing  reached  the  confluence  of  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Ohio,  below  Cape  Girardeau,  and  about  ten  miles  from 
Fort  Jefferson.  The  cold  had  increased  to  an  almost 
unexampled  degree ;  so  we  resolved  to  run  up  a  log- 
cabin,  and  to  shelter  ourselves  under  its  roof  until  the 
weather  was  a  little  milder.  The  day  after  its  completion 
I  went  out  hunting,  and  at  the  end  of  a  week  knew  all  the 
territory  around  our  camp.  I  had  met  with  some  of  the 
natives,  who  came  and  pitched  their  tents  in  the  vicinity 
of  our  hut,  and  joined  in  our  expeditions.  Most  of  these 
Kedskins  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  the  Osages,  but  a  few 
to  that  of  the  loways.  They  lived  entirely  on  the  pro- 
ducts of  their  skill  in  hunting  the  eland  and  the  bison, 
which  abounded  in  these  parts.  Sometimes,  too,  the 
loways  directed  their  arrows  at  the  opossums  and  wild 
turkeys ;  and  the  address  with  which  they  shot  a  bird  in 
its  flight,  or  a  hare  while  running,  was  really  wonderful. 

Our  days  glided  by  very  swiftly.  From  morning  to 
night  we  hunted  the  larger  game,  and  the  birds  which 
covered  the  small  fresh- water  lakes  so  numerous  along 
the  Mississippi.  In  the  evening  we  pursued  the  bands 
of  cayeutes  which  prowled  around  our  camp  in  quest  of 
the  bones  and  fragments  we  threw  out  as  bait.  By  the 
light  of  our  fire  we  could  perceive  their  glaring  eyes, 
which  seemed  to  us  like  two  flaming  brands  in  the  black- 


FOOTPRINTS  IN  THE  SNOW.  103 

ness  of  the  night ;  and  with  the  help  of  so  excellent  a  mark 
we  could  easily  lodge  a  bullet  in  their  skull.  But  if, 
after  bringing  down  the  animal,  we  neglected  to  bring 
him  in,  on  the  following  morning  we  found  the  ground 
clear.     His  comrades  had  devoured  him,  flesh  and  bone. 

We  remained  in  this  place  for  a  fortnight,  and  our 
provisions  began  rapidly  to  diminish ;  thanks  to  our  In- 
dian friends,  who  "  borrowed "  assiduously  our  whiskey 
and  our  bread.  My  friend  and  I  decided,  therefore,  that 
we  would  cross  the  Mississippi,  in  quest  of  some  village 
where  we  could  lay  in  a  supply  of  flour  and  eau-de-vie. 

The  next  morning  we  set  out  alone,  leaving  our  camp 
under  the  protection  of  the  O sages ;  but  we  had  scarcely 
arrived  within  thirty  paces  of  the  river  when  we  fell  in 
with  a  troop  of  deer,  which  we  pursued  in  the  direction 
of  the  prairies.  One  of  these  aniuials  being  killed 
by  my  comrade,  we  hoisted  it  on  the  branch  of  a  tree, 
and  having  marked  the  spot,  resumed  our  march.  But 
we  had  lost  our  way,  and  wandered  all  through  the  night 
without  coming  upon  the  river-bank.  Great  was  our 
terror  when,  on  the  glittering  snow,  we  saw  the  imprints 
of  a  number  of  feet !  But  ten  minutes  later,  we  sud- 
denly found  ourselves  at  the  entrance  of  our  log-cabin, 
surrounded  by  the  Indians,  who  laughed  gaily  at  our 
misadventure,  and  jested  at  our  want  of  perspicacity.  As 
the  reader  will  guess,  we  had  described  a  vicious  circle, 
and  returned  to  the  spot  from  which  we  had  started. 

After  a  night's  rest  we  felt  recovered  from  our  fatigue, 
and  set  out  again  at  early  morning,  this  time  marching 
straight  for  the  river.  Nothing  checked  us ;  neither 
flights  of  wild  turkeys  nor  troops  of  deer ;  and  at  about 


104  ON  THE  BANK  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

one  o'clock  we  arrived  opposite  the  village.  But  tlie 
difficalties  of  our  enterprise  had  scarcely  begun.  Tlie 
Mississippi  was  carrying  down  enormous  masses  of  ice ; 
and,  spite  of  our  signals,  no  ferryman  ventured  across 
the  river.  We  were  compelled,  therefore,  to  pass  the 
night  on  the  spot.  Fortunately  we  found  a  deserted  hut, 
which  provided  us  with  an  asylum.  With  my  gun  and  a 
little  powder  we  soon  kindled  a  fire ;  and  a  turkey  which 
we  grilled,  we  devoured  to  the  very  feet.  A  litter  of 
straw  and  heath  served  us  instead  of  a  mattress ;  and  the 
night,  thanks  to  the  blazing  pile  which  we  heaped  up  in 
front  of  us,  passed  by  without  much  suffering. 

The  moment  day  dawned,  my  friend  and  I  issued  from 
our  shelter.  Cold  was  the  atmosphere,  and  pure.  The 
frost,  hanging  to  the  branches  of  the  trees  like  stalactites 
to  the  roof  of  a  grotto,  rendered  them  so  brilliant,  when 
the  sun  rose  above  the  horizon,  that  it  seemed  as  if  we 
had  suddenly  entered  a  forest  of  crystal.  At  our  feet  tho 
Mississippi  rolled  its  bluish  waters,  whirling  and  eddying 
round  drifting  snow-white  icebergs. 

After  having  made  numerous  signals,  we  saw  a  boat 
throw  off  its  moorings,  and  gradually  make  its  way 
across  the  stream,  through  the  sinuous  channels  formed 
by  the  floating  ice.  Thanks  to  efforts  almost  herculean, 
the  two  men  who  rowed  her  succeeded  in  reaching  us, 
and  we  explained  to  them  the  object  of  our  summons. 
As  soon  as  we  had  struck  a  bargain  with  them,  they  re- 
sumed their  dangerous  course,  promising  to  return  the 
same  evening. 

That  we  might  utilize  to  the  best  advantage  the  long 
and  dreary  interval,  my  friend  and  I  agreed  to  explore 
the  environs  and  fill  our  game-bags.     We  might  thus  be 


A  MORNING  S  BOOTY, 


105 


able,  on  regaining  the  encampment,  to  offer  something 
besides  bread  to  our  friendly  Indians. 

We  set  out,  therefore,  on  the  hunt,  and  before  noon 


**BY  DINT  OF  HARNESSING  OURSELVES  TO  IT  IN  TURN." 

had   "bagged"   a  score   of   snipes   and   two    magnificent 
moor-hens. 

According  to  agreement,  the  two  boatmen  returned  at 


106  DIES  DIEM  SEQUITUR. 

sunset  with  a  barrel  of  wlieaten  flour,  several  large  loaves 
of  bread,  and  a  bag  of  maize.  All  this  was  placed  on  a 
hastily -constructed  sledge  ;  and  by  dint  of  harnessing 
ourselves  to  it  in  turn,  we  arrived  about  midnight,  safe 
and  sound,  and  not  over-weary,  at  the  camp  of  the 
O sages,  and  in  front  of  our  log-cabin. 

Meantime  the  Mississippi  began  to  decrease,  and  the 
ice,  receding  with  the  level  of  the  water,  imperilled  our 
keel-boat.  As  an  useful  precaution  we  lightened  it,  with 
the  help  of  the  Indian  women,  of  its  heavier  stores ;  and, 
with  some  trunks  of  trees,  which  we  felled  for  the  pur- 
pose, we  constructed  around  it  a  kind  of  jetty,  to  protect 
it  from  collisions. 

After  these  arrangements  had  been  completed,  our  days 
rolled  joyously  by;  and  our  numerous  sporting  expedi- 
tions provided  us  with  so  much  game  that  the  carcasses  of 
bears,  stags,  moor-fowl,  and  snipes  brought  down  by  our 
guns,  joined  to  the  hares  which  we  entrapped,  being 
suspended  to  the  trees  around  our  camp,  gave  it  all  the 
a[>pearance  of  the  bazaar  of  a  provision-merchant.  The 
lakes  in  the  vicinity  teemed  with  excellent  fish ;  and,  by 
means  of  nets  or  harpoons,  the  Redskins  supplied  us 
daily  with  beautiful  trout  and  enormous  pikes. 

The  Indians  passed  their  days  in  tanning  the  skins  of 
stags  and  otters,  and  weaving  rush  baskets.  In  the 
evening  my  friend,  who  had  brought  with  him  an  indif- 
ferent fiddle,  set  the  "ladies"  dancing;  and  the  crew  of 
our  boat  disputed  with  the  Osages  and  the  loways  the 
palm  of  gallantry.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  pipes  of 
tobacco,  which  gave  to  the  picture  a  modern  aspect,  one 
might  have  thought  one's-self  a  witness  of  some  ancient 
idyll. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GRAY  HERON.  107 


Three  weeks  had  thus  swept  by,  when,  one  morning, 
our  camp  was  invaded  by  a  tribe  of  Blackfeet  Indians, 
who  had  come  to  conchide  terms  of  amity  with  the 
Osages.  At  first  the  two  tribes  regarded  one  another 
with  evil  eye  and  frowning  brow ;  but  the  discourse  of  a 
sachem  soon  produced  a  favourable  impression,  and  peace 
was  made. 

Thanks  to  our  new  companions,  my  friend  and  I  could 
enjoy  a  pastime  no  longer  practised  in  Europe,  except  in 
Holland  and  Scotland  :  J  mean,  hunting  the  heron  with 
falcons  trained  for  the  purpose.  The  American  falcons 
resemble  those  of  Europe  in  size  and  strength  :  the  sole 
distinction  is  the  colour  of  their  plumage,  which  is  much 
deeper.  As  for  the  education  which  adapts  them  for  the 
chase,  and  renders  them  obedient  to  the  call  of  man,  my 
ignorance  of  the  Indian  language  precludes  me  from  say- 
ing what  means  were  employed  by  the  Redskins  to  obtain 
these  results. 

The  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  Blackfeet  at  our  camp, 
we  wended  our  way,  in  the  most  profound  silence,  to- 
wards a  marsh  formed  by  several  springs  of  fresh  water. 
Two  dogs,  darting  into  the  middle  of  the  reeds  which 
fringed  its  borders,  immediately  started  an  enormous, 
gray  heron,  of  an  immense  width  of  wing,  who,  taking 
flight  with  the  wind,  mounted  before  us  as  if  he  wished 
to  lose  himself  in  space.  In  ten  seconds  we  could  only 
just  discern  him  as  a  black  spot  on  the  clear  azure  of  the 
sky.  But  scarcely  had  he  accomplished  half  his  flight 
before  one  of  the  five  falcons,  carried  by  the  Bedskins 
in  little  reed  cages,  was  let  loose  against  him. 

At  first  the  bird  remained  immovable  on  tlie  edge  of 


108 


THE  FALCON  S  VICTORY. 


his  cage ; 


gaze 


PURSUED  BY  HIS  ENEMY.' 


but,  suddenly,  his 
having  embraced  the 
horizon,  he  caught  sight  of 
the  long-necked  bird,  uttered 
two  or  three  angry  cries,  and 
with  a  strident  flight,  like  the 
hissing  of  a  bullet,  mounted, 
in  his  turn,  perpendicularly. 
Still  the  heron  continued  to 
li  ascend,  until  he  almost  dis- 
appeared from  our  sight.  We 
could  only  descry  a  couple  of 
black  points,  which  apparently 
dashed  against  one  another, 
receded,  again  drew  together, 
and  whirled  round  and  round 
in  wild  gyrations.  Suddenly 
these  two  black  points  be- 
came more  visible  ;  the  birds 
resumed  their  proper  forms 
in  our  eyes.  The  heron  re- 
gained the  swamps,  pursued 
by  his  enemy ;  and  the  elon- 
gated legs,  the  straight  neck, 
the  stiff  head,  the  wings  half 
furled,  might  well  have  been 
taken  for  an  aerolite  detached 
from  one  of  the  unknown 
worlds.  Like  a  skilful  blood- 
hound, the  falcon  had  beaten 
2  back  the  heron  in  our  direc- 
tion ;  but  the  latter,  gaining 


A  MOVING  SPECTACLE.  109 

new  strength  from  the  danger  which  threatened  him,  by 
a  rapid  movement  deceived  the  eye  of  the  falcon,  and  the 
latter  was  carried  some  twenty  feet  beyond.  This  space 
was  soon  crossed  anew ;  and  by  an  abrupt  summerset,  he 
contrived  to  seize  the  heron  by  the  throat,  and  the  battle 
recommenced,  body  to  body.  All  at  once  a  large  plume, 
empiu^pled  with  blood,  and  belonging  to  one  of  the  two 
combatants,  fell  in  our  midst,  and  the  falcon — for  the 
feather  was  his — rolled  wildly  over,  as  if  stricken  by  a 
deadly  ball.  We  thought  all  was  finished ;  but  this  was 
only  a  swoon,  not  a  defeat.  With  augmented  fury  the 
brave  bird  dashed  against  his  foe ;  and  the  fight  which 
,  took  place  before  our  eyes  it  is  impossible  to  describe. 
The  two  birds  wheeled  round  in  immense  orbits,  some- 
times circular,  sometimes  oval,  sometimes  broken  and 
irregular. 

At  length,  after  many  useless  stratagems  and  a  thou- 
sand hopeless  detours,  the  heron,  caught  between  the 
powerful  talons  of  the  bird  of  prey,  and  his  stomach  torn 
by  his  crooked  beak  as  by  a  scythe — that  of  Death — fell 
.  headlong  on  the  border  of  the  morass.  But  barely  had 
he  touched  the  soil  before  the  falcon  again  pounced  upon 
him,  rose  with  him  in  the  air,  and  not  until  he  had 
breathed  his  last  did  the  furious  bird  throw  him  to  the 
ground,  heavy,  lifeless,  and  motionless. 

Three  times  during  the  day  was  this  spectacle  repeated ; 
one  of  the  most  moving  on  which  my  eyes  had  ever  rested. 

The  cold  still  continued,  and  the  ice  accumulated  on 
the  shores  of  the  Mississippi,  leaving  in  the  centre  only  a 
very  narrow  canal  free  from  obstacles.  We  resolved  on 
setting  out  for  Cape  Girardeau. 


110  RESTING  AT  SAINTE-GENEYIEVE. 

We  were,  therefore,  compelled  to  quit  our  friendly 
Kedskins ;  and  we  parted  from  each  other  with  many 
protestations  of  life-long  amity. 

We  arrived  at  the  cape  on  the  same  evening  ;  and 
next  morning,  after  passing  the  Grande  Tour, — an  im- 
mense rock,  forming  a  lofty  circular  island,  forty  feet 
high,  in  the  centre  of  the  Mississippi, — we  rowed  towards 
Sainte-Genevieve,  where  we  might  rest  after  our  fatigues. 

During  the  night  we  heard,  on  the  Illinois  shore,  the 
howls  of  the  cayeutes  in  pursuit  of  the  deer.  By  the 
light  of  the  moon,  which  illuminated  the  earth  like  the 
electric  light  in  an  operatic  scene,  we  could  see  a  hundred 
cayeutes  grouped  in  a  pack  like  bloodhounds,  hunting  a 
stag,  and  driving  him  towards  a  point  of  the  coast  where 
another  troop  lay  in  ambush.  Suddenly,  the  harassed 
animal  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  his  concealed 
enemies,  and  after  running  a  few  paces  fui'ther,  fell  a 
victim  to  their  voracity.  At  this  moment  a  cloud  not 
unfitly  obscured  the  picture,  and  everytliing  passed  into 
shadow.  One  might  have  thought  the  whole  to  be  a 
hurried  vision,  but  for  the  hoarse  voices  of  the  cayeutes 
as  they  revelled  in  their  unexpected  feast. 

After  resting  at  Sainte-Genevieve  for  a  couple  of  days, 
we  began  to  think  of  returning  home. 

Crossing  the  Mississippi,  we  soon  found  ourselves  in 
the  wood  which  leads  across  the  mountains  to  the  bank 
of  the  Wabash.  We  travelled  on  foot ;  but  before  reach- 
ing the  first  slope  of  the  hills,  we  met  with  wide  mea- 
dows, flooded  over,  which  we  were  compelled  to  traverse. 
The  slippery  skin  of  our  mocassins  rendering  our  walk- 
ing painful,  greatly  retarded  our  efibrts,  and  prevented 


A  PLAGUE  OF  EGYPT.  Ill 

US  from  advancing  as  we  could  have  done  on  dry  ground. 
Nevertheless  we  accomplished  ten  leagues  on  the  first 
day,  preceded  by  a  herd  of  deer,  whose  graceful  move- 
ments and  tossing  antlers  we  could  discern  for  several 
miles  ahead  of  us. 

These  prairies,  at  the  epoch  of  which  I  speak,  were 
dreary  and  barren ;  but  when  the  sweet  spring-time 
comes,  they  bloom  like  gardens  of  flowers,  whose  delight- 
ful odours  please  the  smell,  just  as  their  beautiful  colours 
gratify  the  sight.  Clouds  of  butterflies,  with  brilliantly- 
spotted  wings,  dispute  with  the  humming  -  birds  the 
plunder  of  all  this  honied  wealth ;  but,  alas  !  every 
medal  has  its  reverse,  and  innumerable  mosquitoes — a 
true  plague  of  Egypt — render  this  Eden  uninhabitable. 
Collecting  in  dense  swarms,  like  bees  on  emerging  from 
their  hives,  they  form  in  bodies  so  compact  that  a  hun- 
dred swarms  will  be  found  in  a  square  inch.  When 
these  cruel  insects  attack  a  bison  or  a  stag,  they  torture 
it  to  death  in  a  most  agonizing  manner.  It  is  a  remark- 
able fact  that  they  never  pursue  man ;  and  it  is  only  in 
the  hottest  hours  of  summer  that  they  rise  above  the 
marshes.  The  stags,  to  escape  their  attacks,  plunge 
underneath  the  water,  allowing  only  their  nostrils  to 
remain  uncovered. 

Three  days  after  our  departure  from  Sainte-Genevi^ve 
we  arrived  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio ;  and  a  wreath  of 
light  smoke,  rising  from  the  roof  of  a  house  a  hundred 
yards  in  front  of  us,  promised  us  a  dinner  and  a  bed. 
The  mistress,  an  excellent  woman,  received  us  with 
cordial  hospitality.  While  her  two  sons  admiringly  re- 
garded our  two-barrelled  rifles,  and  WQ  dried  our  clothes 


112 


AN  HOSPITABLE  RECEPTION. 


before  a  large  fire,  a  beautiful  young  girl/ tall  and  slender 
as  a  inaid  of  Artois,  placed  upon  the  table  some  fried 
venison,  eggs,  milk,  and  coffee.  A  glass  of  whisky  in- 
creased the  pleasure  of  the  repast. 

In  this  hospitable  house  we  passed  the  night ;  and 
next  day,  after  breakfast,  as  our  hostess  would  not  accept 
any  pay,  my  friend  gave  her  sons  a  horn  full  of  powder, 
a  precious  gift  for  the  pioneers  of  the  western  prairies. 
In  my  turn  I  begged  the  daughter  to  accept  a  new  red 
silk  handkerchief,  which  I  had  found  at  the  bottom  of 
my  knapsack.     She  appeared  delighted  with  the  present. 

At  noon  we  boarded  a  steam-boat  which  ascended  the 
Ohio ;  and  the  same  evening,  my  friend  reconducted  me 
to  his  father's  house,  where  we  were  received  as  i^rodigal 
sons,  though  no  calf  was  killed  for  us. 


CHAPTER   YIIL 


THE  PANTHER. 


N  a  certain  day  in  winter,  I  was  wandering 
among  the  forests  which  extend — or  in  those 
times  did  extend — along  the  line  of  the  great 
Erie  Kailroad.  I  was  accompanied  by  two 
friends,  who  were  tried  and  skilful  hunters.  We  were 
all  three  mounted  on  the  horses  of  the  country,  armed 
with  rifles,  and  attended  by  a  pack  of  six  dogs. 

The  particular  wood  into  whose  depths  we  had  strayed 
was  thick  and  tangled,  composed  of  cedars,  cypresses,  and 
reeds,  and  besprinkled — so  to  speak — with  basins  of  water, 
which,  in  Louisiana,  are  called  hayous,  and  in  the  Nor- 
thern States  2'>onds.  The  densest  shadow  prevailed  in  the 
forest,  which  appeared  to  be  frequented  by  numerous 
animals  of  all  descriptions.  The  atmosphere  was  heavy, 
(^11)  8 


114  IN  THE  BUSH.  ' 

the  horizon  dark  and  foggy,  but,  despite  the  obscurity,  we 
had  made  up  our  minds  not  to  return  to  our  dwelling- 
places  until  we  had  killed  a  stag.  We  were  delighted, 
therefore,  when  one  of  our  hounds  '^gave  tongue,"  and 
after  a  long  circuit  brought  us  in  front  of  a  cane-bush, 
rendered  impenetrable  by  a  multitude  of  interwoven 
lianas.  There  the  dogs  halted,  and,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  followed  their  leader  around  the  inextricable 
thicket,  with  ears  pricked  upright,  eyes  casting  forth  fire 
and  flames,  nostrils  open,  and  hams  outstretched.  Their 
barks  were  frantic,  terrible,  and  repeated  at  such  short 
intervals  as  to  seem  continuous.  Echo  reproduced  the 
clamour,  which  glided  over  the  liquid  surface  of  a  neigh- 
bouring lake,  and  faded  away  in  the  far  distance,  like  the 
flourish  of  a  huntsman  sounding  his  horn. 

We  followed  closely  on  the  track  of  our  dogs,  and 
putting  aside  with  one  hand  the  branches  of  the  trees 
which  struck  our  faces,  with  the  other  supported  our 
horses,  lest  they  should  make  a  false  step. 

On  the  farther  side  of  the  cane-bush,  the  dogs  had  found 
a  passage  through  the  reedy  undergrowth,  and  we  could 
hear  them  in  the  middle  yelping  loudly.  I  begged  my  com- 
panions to  let  me  take  the  adventure  upon  myself;  and 
throwiiig  off  my  upper  coat,  I  bound  a  handkerchief  about 
my  head  to  save  my  face  and  glasses.  Putting  fresh  caps 
on  my  gun,  I  penetrated  with  great  difiiculty  into  the 
kind  of  alley  made  by  the  dogs.  I  was  careful  not  to 
make  a  noise,  and  trod  as  silently  as  possible  in  the  midst 
of  the  bush,  where  no  human  being  had  ever  been  before. 
And  soon,  through  the  curtains  of  verdure  which  obscured 
the  sight,  I  came  within  two  paces  of  the  pack.  One  of 
them  was  springing  against  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and  biting 


BRINGING  DOWN  A  PANTHER.  115 

its  bark,  while  the  others  ran  to  and  fro  around  him, 
barking  like  veritable  demons. 

I  raised  mj  eyes,  to  discover,  if  I  could,  the  object  of 
their  rage.  After  a  few  moments'  survey,  becoming  ac- 
customed to  the  obscurity,  I  descried,  at  about  thirty 
paces  above  my  head,  a  male  panther  of  the  largest 
species,  who,  lashing  his  flanks  with  his  tail,  rolled  in 
their  orbits  piercing  glaring  eyes,  like  balls  of  flaming 
phosphorus. 

To  take  aim,  and  simultaneously  discharge  both  barrels 
of  my  rifle,  was  the  afiair  of  a  second ;  but,  despite  the 
accuracy  of  my  fire,  the  animal  was  not  killed  outright. 
With  his  two  fore-feet  he  clung  to  one  of  the  branches,  as 
if  he  defied  death.  But  a  few  minutes  afterwards  his 
claws  abandoned  their  grasp,  and  the  panther  fell  at  my 
feet  in  the  middle  of  the  dogs,  whom  I  with  the  greatest 
difiiculty  prevented  from  rending  his  carcass  into  frag- 
ments. 

Meantime,  my  friends  had  come  up,  and,  thanks  to 
their  ready  help,  I  contrived  to  save  my  game,  and  hung 
it  to  the  branch  of  a  tree,  out  of  all  reach. 

It  was  the  first  panther  which  I  had  killed,  and  I  must 
confess  my  joy  was  extreme,  and  evinced  itself  in  numer- 
ous exclamations.  The  animal  was  an  enormous  one,  and 
yet  he  was  far  from  resembling  the  panthers  exhibited  in 
museums  of  natural  history,  which  are  as  large  as  a  tiger 
or  a  leopard.  The  panther  of  the  United  States  seldom 
exceeds  the  size  of  a  large  fox,  or,  at  most,  that  of  a  small 
wolf.  The  one  which  hung  before  my  eyes  had  a  reddish- 
white  skin,  covered  from  the  neck  to  the  extremity  of  the 
tail  with  oblong  spots,  of  a  dull  brown  colour,  bordered 
with  black.     The  under  part  of  the  belly  was  white  and 


116  A  COUPLE  OF  VICTIMS. 

smooth  j  the  eyes  were  a  yellow-green,  large  and  shining ; 
the  ears  pointed ;  the  feet  armed  with  claws  about  half 
an  inch  in  length. 

While  my  companions  and  myself  were  admiring  the 
panther,  the  hounds  had  hit  upon  another  scent,  and 
resumed  their  headlong  race.  We  hastened  to  remount 
our  steeds,  and  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards,  spite  of 
the  enormous  circuit  we  had  made  in  the  forest,  we  all 
three  met  again  at  the  cane-bush.  This  time,  hastening 
to  attach  our  horses  to  the  neighbouring  trees,  we  entered 
the  thorny  labyrinth  together.  At  the  very  place  where 
I  had  killed  my  panther  the  female  was  standing  erect, 
roaring  with  rage,  and  her  jaws  reeking  with  greenish 
foam. 

Three  rifles,  simultaneously  fired,  stretched  the  beast 
upon  the  ground.  Our  balls  had  penetrated  through  the 
skin ;  one  entering  the  chest,  another  the  head,  and  a  third 
the  belly. 

Without  hesitation,  I  drew  my  bowie-knife  from  its 
sheath,  and,  assisted  by  my  two  companions,  bravely 
undertook  the  task  of  butcher — opening  the  skin  under 
the  belly  of  the  two  panthers,  stripping  it  off,  and  ampu- 
tating the  head  and  the  four  feet.  This  double  flaying 
terminated,  we  abandoned  the  flesh  of  the  animals  to  our 
dogs. 

In  great  glee  we  took  our  way  towards  Grammercy 
Land  House,  the  abode  of  a  wealthy  farmer,  our  common 
friend.  On  the  confines  of  the  forest,  close  to  a  lagoon 
formed  by  one  of  the  windings  of  the  little  lake,  our  dogs 
found  a  new  scent.  Was  this  another  panther  1  Was  it 
a  racoon,  or,  perhaps,  a  stag  ?  None  could  say ;  but 
cei^tainly  we  had  then  no  hope  of  completing  our  standard 


A  THREE-TAILED  STANDARD.  117 

of  a  three-tailed  pacha.  We  were  satisfied  with  the  two 
panthers'  tails  which  we  already  possessed ;  but  lo  !  in 
front  of  ns,  and  not  twenty  paces  distant,  there  sprang 
from  the  middle  of  a  copse  a  graceful  animal,  who  with 
a  single  bound  gained  the  crest  of  a  birch-tree,  and  from 
thence  appeared  to  defy  our  attack  and  the  assaults  of 
our  dogs.  But  all  three  of  us  again  discharged  our  rifles, 
and  our  victim,  with  a  frightful  yell,  fell  to  the  ground 
dead. 

It  proved  to  be  a  young  and  handsome  male  panther, 
as  lithe  and  supple  as  one  of  those  American  dandies  who 
strut  along  the  Broadway  pavement,  and  insolently  stare 
out  of  countenance  the  beauties  of  New  York.  He  mea- 
sured five  feet  and  a  half  in  length.  The  three-tailed 
standard  was  ours,  and  we  had  only  to  settle  who  of  us 
should  be  pacha  ! 

During  this  last  expedition,  night  had  come  on,  with- 
out any  transition  from  day  to  twilight.  We  looked  for 
our  road,  but  could  not  find  it.  Densely  tufted  cane- 
bushes  bristled  in  front  of  us,  as  if  a  malicious  enchanter 
had  raised  them  across  our  path  to  obstruct  our  steps ; 
and  we  had  no  Ariadne's  thread  for  a  clue  through  the 
labyrinth. 

At  length  the  moon  rose.  We  steered  our  course  as 
best  we  could,  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  so  as  to  gain 
Grammercy  Land  House.  It  was  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening  when  our  foaming  horses  deposited  us  before  the 
verandah  of  the  farm.  A  good  fire,  an  excellent  supper, 
the  kind  attentions  of  charming  ladies,  and  we  soon  forgot 
our  trials  in  the  midst  of  a  truly  patriarchal  hospitality. 

The  triple  spoil  of  the  panthers  was  displayed  before 
our  kindly  Yankee  friends, — three  charming  sisters,  with 


118  HABITS  OF  THE  PANTHER. 

a  fascinating  smile,  white  teeth,  dark  glancing  eyes,  and 
rounded  slioulders, — who  overwhelmed  us  witli  praises 
doubly  sweet  to  hear  when  uttered  by  rosy  lips. 

The  panther's  skin  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  furriers 
of  the  United  States,  who  fabricate  it  into  splendid 
carpets,  trimmed  with  the  black  bear's  skin.  I  have 
seen  at  Philadelphia  a  saloon  entirely  carpeted  with  pan- 
thers' skins  ;  it  was  a  magnificent  sight,  and  of  inestimable 
value.  The  sofas,  the  cushions,  the  chairs,  the  fauteuils, 
the  consoles,  all  were  covered  with  this  fur — as  fantastic 
as  a  page  written  in  Arabic  characters. 

The  panther  is  an  animal  of  very  carnivorous  habits. 
He  pursues  his  prey  principally  at  night,  qucerens  quern 
devoret ;  and,  though  his  walk  is  slow,  he  elongates  the 
pace  with  so  much  agility,  that  he  will  traverse  immense 
distances  between  sunset  and  sunrise.  If  the  country  be 
full  of  game,  the  panther  soon  finds  his  supper.  One  or 
two  bounds  will  place  in  his  claws  a  prey  worthy  of  his 
appetite.  But  if  the  paths  are  rendered  impracticable 
hy  deep  snow,  or  a  boisterous  wind,  the  panther  hides 
himself  in  the  shadows  of  a  rock,  in  some  locality  fre- 
quented by  stags  or  the  smaller  animals,  and  sheltered, 
perhaps,  by  a  grove  of  cedars  ;  and  there,  patiently  await- 
ing the  troop  of  deer,  whose  habits  he  knows  by  instinct, 
or  the  turkeys  which  plunder  at  the  foot  of  the  trees,  or 
the  hares  whose  burrows  open  right  before  his  eyes,  he 
will  profit  by  the  favourable  opportunity,  and,  taking  his 
spring,  he  rarely  misses  his  prey. 

Sometimes  the  panther  ventures  even  on  attacking 
man,   but  only  when  hunger  has  driven  him  from  the 


AN  UNWELCOME  INTRUDER.  119 

woods,  and  he  has  his  whelps  to  feed.     In  support  of  this 
fact,  permit  me  to  relate  the  following  anecdote  : — 

My  second  panther-hunt  took  place  at  Shenandoah, 
in  Virginia;  along  the  small  stream  of  Cedar  Creek, 
which  flows  at  the  foot  of  lofty  mountains,  clothed  to 
the  very  summit  with  pines,  cedars,  and  brushwood. 

At  Mr.  Pendleton^s  house  I  had  enjoyed  the  most 
cordial  hospitality;  and  one  evening,  after  supper,  four  of 
us  were  seated  round  a  table  loaded  with  glasses,  and  a 
steaming  bowl  of  whisky-punch,  when  the  quiet  tenor  of 
our  conversation  was  all  at  once  interrupted  by  terrible 
shrieks  proceeding  from  a  chamber  near  the  dining-hall. 
Mrs.  Pendleton,  it  seems,  had  been  sitting  there  with  an 
invalid  child  and  her  nurse,  when  the  latter  opening  the 
window,  a  panther  of  enormous  size  leaped  from  the 
roof  of  the  piazza  which  ran  all  round  the  house,  to  the 
sill  of  the  window,  ready  to  spring  upon  the  infant's 
cradle. 

The  cries  of  the  mother  and  nurse  brought  us  immedi- 
ately to  the  chamber ;  but  the  animal  had  taken  fright, 
and  we  learned  what  had  transpired  when  it  was  too  late 
to  pursue  him.  The  house  dogs  were  immediately  let 
loose  in  his  traces ;  but  soon  returned,  like  cowards,  with 
tails  between  their  legs,  as  if  they  had  fled  from  too  immi- 
nent a  danger. 

Next  morning,  long  before  day  had  dawned,  the  three 
Messrs.  Pendleton  and  myself,  accompanied  by  two  negroes 
and  a  pack  of  light  bloodhounds  of  magnificent  breed,  pur- 
sued the  panther's  scent  along  the  most  difficult  paths, 
the  most  thickly  beset  with  brambles  and  briers  and  sharp- 
edged  reeds,  I  had  ever  seen.  Finally  we  arrived  at  a 
sort  of  clearing,  in  the  middle  of  which  lay  the  half- 


120  A  NATURAL  GROTTO. 

devoured  carcass  of  a  kid.  The  game  had  been  killed 
during  the  night,  for  it  was  fresh  and  without  odour. 

Everything  showed  that  we  had  at  length  reached  the 
spot  to  which  the  panther  had  retired  to  pass  the  day. 

The  snow  which  had  fallen  for  the  last  eight  and  forty 
hours  covered  the  ground,  like  a  vast  shroud ;  and  the 
animal's  footprints  could  be  traced  upon  it,  like  a  seal 
upon  sealing-wax.  These  traces  guided  us  to  the  summit 
of  the  Paddy  Mountains,  and  to  a  rock  which,  cloven  in 
twain,  formed  a  natural  grotto,  whose  recesses  were 
hidden  in  the  deepest  darkness. 

One  of  our  dogs  thrust  his  head  into  the  rocky  fissure, 
and  immediately  *^gave  tongue;"  a  proof  that  the  panther 
was  within  a  few  paces  of  us. 

I  do  not  know  whether  nature  has  endowed  dogs  with 
more  courage  by  day  than  by  night ;  but  it  is  certain  that 
the  very  hounds  which,  on  the  preceding  evening,  had 
returned  with  drooping  head  and  tail  between  their  legs 
from  their  pursuit  of  the  panther,  now  hesitated  not  one 
moment  before  rushing  headlong  into  the  narrow  opening 
of  the  grotto  to  attack  the  enemy.  Two  of  them  had 
forced  their  way  in  before  the  Messrs.  Pendleton  could 
prevent  them. 

A  terrible  yell  was  immediately  heard,  followed  by  the 
howls  of  the  two  hounds.  We  were  at  a  loss  what  steps 
to  take.  Unless  the  dogs  could  be  got  out,  they  would  be 
killed.  Mr.  Pudolph,  Mr.  Pendleton's  eldest  son,  ordered 
the  two  negroes  to  creep  into  the  hole  and  draw  forth 
the  dogs  by  their  feet  or  tail.  Adonis  and  Jupiter 
(as  the  two  slaves  were  ludicrously  called)  immediately 
obeyed,  and  contrived  to  extricate  the  dogs  from  their 
perilous  position.      One  of  them  had  received  no  injury, 


THE  TWO  BROTHERS.  121 

but  the  other  had  been  dangerously  wounded  by  the 
panther. 

At  this  moment  the  negro  Jupiter,  who  had  returned 
to  the  cleft  of  the  grotto,  naively  exclaimed  : — 

"  Oh,  Massa  Pendleton,  the  eyes  of  this  panther  shine 
like  a  couple  of  new  dollars  !     Yah,  yah,  yah  ! " 

At  their  master's  orders  the  negroes  then  freed  the 
mouth  of  the  grotto  from  all  the  wood  and  leaves  obstruct- 
ing it,  and  Mr.  Rudolph  in  his  turn  penetrated  into  the 
little  orifice. 

At  this  moment  a  deep  silence  prevailed ;  the  hounds 
themselves  seemed  to  understand  that  they  must  not  bark 
or  move.  In  about  two  minutes  our  adventurous  ex- 
plorer returned  to  us  :  he  had  seen  two  beasts  instead  of 
one.  The  first  was  crouching  in  the  bottom  of  the  cavern ; 
the  second  stood  on  a  ledge  of  rock,  which  projected  on 
the  left  hand  side. 

My  three  hosts  decided  that  Mr.  Rudolph  should  enter 
first,  his  carbine  in  his  hand,  while  his  brother  Harry 
followed  with  a  second  weapon,  in  case  the  first  discharge 
did  not  kill  the  first  panther.  Mr.  Charles  Pendleton 
and  myself  were  to  hold  ourselves  on  the  alert,  with  rifles 
cocked  j  while  the  negroes  who  had  coupled  the  blood- 
hounds held  them  in  leash. 

My  heart  throbbed  violently  with  the  anxiety  of  the 
drama  which  was  on  the  point  of  being  enacted  in  the 
entrails  of  the  earth  !  Suddenly  we  heard  a  deafening 
explosion ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  earth  trembled  under  our 
feet,  or  as  if  a  mine  had  been  fired  close  to  our  ears. 

The  two  Pendletons  soon  reappeared ;  one  carrying  his 
brother's  carbine,  and  the  other  dragging  by  the  tail  an 
enormous  animal  upwards  of  five  feet  in  length. 


122  IN  A  FLORIDA  FOREST. 

While  we  were  examining  liim  the  dogs  broke  from  their 
leash,  and  two  of  them,  darting  anew  into  the  cavern, 
engaged  in  a  deadly  combat  with  the  second  panther, 
which  had  kept  to  his  rocky  ledge.  Fortunately  for  our 
dogs,  the  brute  trembled  with  terror,  and  durst  not  defend 
himself;  so  that  they  strangled  him  easily.  When  this 
subterranean  battle  was  over,  Adonis  entered  the  grotto 
in  his  turn,  and  brought  back  into  the  light  of  day  a  young 
panther,  whom  he  flung  by  the  side  of  his  mother.  Both 
were  dead. 

I  shall  terminate  this  chapter  with  an  episode  from  an 
exploring  expedition  wliich  I  undertook,  some  years  ago, 
in  the  forests  of  Florida. 

It  was  a  frosty  morning,  and  an  American  friend  and 
myself  were  hunting  on  the  river  St.  John,  at  about 
sixteen  miles  from  St.  Augustine.  Our  three  dogs  had 
pursued  a  panther,  who,  to  avoid  them,  had  leaped  into 
the  river,  as  if  to  swim  across  to  an  island  which  lay  about 
a  gunshot  from  the  shore.  All  at  once  the  animal  re- 
turned, seized  by  the  head  the  nearest  dog,  and  dragging 
him  under  the  water,  succeeded  in  suffocating  him.  Our 
remaining  dogs  discerned  the  danger,  and  returned  to  our 
side. 

The  panther  reached  the  opposite  bank.  We  watched  its 
movements  in  sore  disappointment,  for  we  knew  the  im- 
possibility of  crossing  the  river  in  pursuit.  On  issuing 
from  the  water,  he  leaped  upon  a  rock  overhanging  the 
current,  clambered  along  a  tree,  and  crouched  upon  a 
branch  exposed  to  the  sun,  as  if  to  dry  its  magnificent 
fur. 


THE  INDIAN  AND  PANTHER.  123 

Soon  our  astonished  eyes  discovered  a  Carib  creeping 
along  the  ground.  In  his  turn  he  ascended  a  tree, 
the  nearest  to  that  which  sheltered  the  panther,  the 
branches  of  the  two  being  interlaced ;  and,  with  all  an 
Indian's  astuteness,  crawled  along  until  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  animal. 

Already  the  latter  seemed  to  calculate  the  force  and 
range  of  his  spring ;  only,  he  hesitated  from  a  fear  that 
the  branches  might  not  be  strong  enough  to  support  both 
himself  and  the  enemy  he  was  about  to  attack.  As  for 
the  Indian,  armed  with  a  wooden  stake  and  a  bowie- 
knife,  he  awaited  the  beast  of  prey,  who  lifted  his  feet 
very  cautiously,  dug  his  sharp  claws  into  the  smooth  bark 
of  the  tree,  advanced  inch  by  inch,  while  his  emerald  eye 
burned  with  sanguinary  ardour. 

This  moving  spectacle  rivetted  us  to  the  ground ;  yet 
a  secret  instinct  appeared  to  warn  us  that,  though  the 
peril  was  great,  the  man  would  conquer  the  animal. 
Therefore,  our  sympathies  did  not  prevent  us  from  admir- 
ing the  elegance,  the  vigour,  and  the  suppleness  of  the 
panther.  The  hot  breath,  issuing  from  his  open  jaws, 
seemed  to  reach  the  face  of  the  Kedskin,  who,  raising  his 
pole,  dealt  him  a  violent  blow  on  the  head,  to  which  he 
responded  with  a  deep  hoarse  roar.  Thus  warned,  the 
animal  turned  about  so  as  to  place  his  snout  under  a 
branch  which  covered  and  protected  him.  But  the  Indian, 
observing  his  open  jaws,  thrust  into  them  his  pointed 
stake,  eliciting  a  howl  far  more  terrible  than  the  first. 
The  panther  collected  his  body,  and  stretched  forward  one 
of  his  legs,  to  reach  a  branch  which  would  place  him  on 
a  level  with  his  enemy.  The  situation  became  critical ; 
his  enormous  claws  already  touched  the  Eedskin's  knee; 


124 


A  MOMENT  OF  SUSPENSE. 


''his  emerald  eye  burned  with  sanguinary  ardour." 


his  panting  breath  indicated  the  vigorous  effort  he  was  on 
the  point  of  essaying ;  and  my  friend  and  I  would  have 
brought  the  horrible  struggle  to  a  close,  if  we  had  not 


"  BILLY  BOW-LEGS."  125 

been  afraid  of  hitting  both  the  man  and  the  animal,  as 
our  guns  were  loaded  with  deer-shot. 

At  this  critical  moment,  the  Indian  making  a  violent 
movement,  plunged  the  blade  of  his  knife  into  the  eye  of 
his  enemy,  who,  equally  unable  to  recede  or  advance — 
held  fast  as  he  was  by  the  weapon  planted  in  the  orbit  of 
his  eye — gave  vent  to  his  impotent  rage  by  long  and  re- 
])eated  yells.  His  rage  finally  prevailed  over  the  instinct 
of  prudence  peculiar  to  his  race ;  he  prepared  to  spring ; 
but  a  second  blow  of  the  stake  overthrew  his  balance, 
and  he  fell  on  the  river-bank  within  gunshot  range.  A 
loud  report,  produced  by  the  simultaneous  discharge  of 
our  four  barrels,  nailed  the  animal  to  the  ground,  where 
he  struggled  for  a  few  moments,  and  grew  rigid  in  one 
final  convulsion. 

The  Indian  whom  accident  had  thus  thrown  in  our 
route,  and  who  afterwards  followed  us  to  St.  Augustine, 
was  no  obscure  hunter,  but  the  celebrated  ''  Billy  Bow- 
legs," who  became  chief  of  the  Caribs  of  the  Florida  pen- 
insula, and  whose  tribe  frequently  disturbed  the  repose, 
and  threatened  the  life,  of  the  planters  of  Tallahassee. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 


THE  PASSENGER-PIGEONS. 


iNE  autumn  morning  of  1847,  before  day,  I  was 
wandering  along  the  heights  which  overhang 
the  town  of  Hartford,  in  Kentucky,  driving 
before  me  the  robins,  mavises,  and  rice-birds, 
when  all  at  once,  on  emerging  from  the  wood,  I  observed 
that  the  horizon  was  darkling ;  and,  after  having  atten- 
tively examined  what  could  have  caused  so  sudden  a 
change  in  the  atmosphere,  I  discovered  that  the  clouds — 
as  I  had  supposed  them  to  be — were  neither  more  nor  less 
than  numerous  enormous  flocks  of  pigeons."'     These  birds 

*  The  passenger-pigeon  of  North  America  belongs  to  a  peculiar  species, 
which  is  found  in  all  the  northern  states  of  the  great  republic,  as  well  as  in 
Upper  and  Lower  Canada.  Numbers  of  these  birds  pass  the  winter  as  low  as 
the  60th  degree  of  latitude,  and  live  upon  worms  and  the  berries  of  junipers 
and  thorns.     Their  beauty  of  plumage  is  truly  remarkable  ;  it  is  a  dazzling 


MIGRATIONS  OF  THE  PIGEONS.  127 

flew  out  of  range,  and  I  had  no  chance,  therefore,  of 
making  a  gap  in  their  serried  ranks ;  so  I  conceived  the 
idea  of  counting  how  many  troops  flew  over  my  head  in 

mixture  of  azure,  gold,  purple,  and  emerald,  unequalled  in  the  whole  feathered 
race,  except  in  the  humming-bird.  The  head  of  the  male  is  of  an  ashy  blue  ; 
his  breast  of  a  nut-like  colour,  tinged  with  red ;  his  neck  is  diapered  with 
emerald,  gold,  and  scarlet ;  the  blue  wings  are  thickly  sprinkled  with  black 
and  brown  spots  ;  the  belly  is  white  as  snow.  The  tail,  wedge-shaped,  and  of 
great  length,  is  traversed  by  a  band  of  brilliant  black,  and  the  legs  are  red  like 
those  of  the  hartavelle  partridge.  The  female  of  the  American  pigeon  has  no 
dazzling  colours ;  her  feathers  are  of  an  ashy  gray,  mingled  with  black  and 
deep  chestnut.  The  only  graces  which  she  derives  from  nature  are  those  of 
her  forms,  which  are  supple  and  slender,  and  the  limpidity  of  her  flame-hued 
eyes. 

The  migrations  of  these  passenger-pigeons  have  been  attributed  by  different 
naturalists  to  the  imperious  necessity  of  avoiding  the  rigorous  cold  of  the 
misty  climates  of  the  north,  and  seeking  a  milder  temperature.  Such,  how- 
ever, is  not  the  cause  ;  they  are  brought  southwards  by  the  scarcity  of  the 
fruits  which  form  their  principal  subsistence.  It  is  only  after  having  ex- 
hausted all  the  resources  of  the  territory  on  which  they  settle  that  they  resume 
their  flight,  and  move  to  another  district.  Several  inhabitants  of  Kentucky 
and  Illinois  have  assured  me,  that  after  dwelling  for  three  or  four  years  in  the 
woods  of  those  two  states,  the  pigeons  all  disappeared  in  a  single  morning,  be- 
cause they  could  find  no  more  nuts  to  feed  upon.  It  was  not  until  1845  that 
they  returned  in  great  numbers.  The  harvest  in  that  year  was  magnificent, 
and  the  thieves  came  to  take  their  share  of  it. 

Belonging- to  the  species  known  in  England  as  the  carrier-pigeon,  and  em- 
ployed in  the  transmission  of  intelligence  (at  least,  before  the  invention  of  the 
electric  telegraph),  American  pigeons  possess  a  prodigious  power  of  flight. 
Thus,  I  have  killed  in  the  state  of  New  York  several  individuals  of  the  species 
whose  stomachs  were  still  full  of  grains  of  rice  gathered  by  them  in  Georgia 
or  Carolina  ;  and  as  it  is  known  that  the  most  indigestible  substances  cannot 
resist  for  more  than  twelve  hours  the  action  of  the  gastric  juice,  we  must  hence 
conclude  that  my  pigeons  in  six  hours  had  traversed  a  space  of  three  to  four 
hundred  miles,  or  about  one  mile  per  minute.  If  this  be  correct,  in  two  days 
they  could  cross  the  Atlantic,  and  fly  from  New  York  to  London. 

The  American  pigeons,  thanks  to  their  faculty  of  flight,  which  surpasses  that 
of  any  other  bird,  are  also  endowed,  in  a  very  remarkable  degree,  with  the  gift 
of  sight.  They  do  not  need  to  pause  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  district 
over  which  they  speed,  and  discovering  whether  it  possesses  their  favourite 
seeds  and  fruits.  Sometimes  you  will  see  them  rise  to  a  great  height,  and 
extend  their  battalions  in  all  directions  ;  they  are  then  engaged  in  recon- 
noitring the  ground.  Sometimes  they  close  up  in  a  compact  body,  descend 
towards  earth,  and  seem  to  consult  with  one  another  ;  they  have  then  made  a 
fortunate  discovery,  and  the  supplies  beneath  them  are  abundant. 

Everything  in  the  structure  of  these  birds — their  nervous  wings,  their  bifur- 
cated tails,  the  oval  of  their  bodies — points  to  an  organization  adapted  to 
sustain  a  rapid  flight  and  prolonged  respiration  ;  and  although  such  an  organi- 
zation would  seem  incompatible  with  tenderness  of  flesh,  this  game  is  much 
sought  after  in  America,  and  regarded  as  an  exquisite  dish. 


128  A  WONDERFUL  FLIGHT. 

the  course  of  an  hour.  Accordingly,  I  seated  myself 
tranquilly;  and  drawing  from  my  pocket  pencil  and 
paper,  I  began  to  take  my  notes.  In  a  short  time  the 
fiocks  succeeded  each  other  with  so  much  rapidity  that  the 
only  way  I  could  count  them  was  by  tracing  manifold 
strokes.  In  the  space  of  thirty-five  minutes,  two  hundred 
and  twenty  bands  of  pigeons  had  passed  before  my  eyes. 
Soon  the  fiocks  touched  each  other,  and  were  arrayed  in 
so  compact  a  manner  that  they  hid  from  my  sight  the 
sun.  The  ordure  of  these  birds  covered  the  ground,  fall- 
ing thick  and  fast  like  winter's  snow. 

On  returning  at  noon  to  the  inn  at  Hartford  for  din- 
ner, I  had  leisure  to  examine  the  continuation  of  this 
truly  miraculous  fiight.  The  pigeons  did  not  halt  in  the 
surrounding  plains ;  for  the  nuts  and  acorns  had  every- 
where failed  that  year.  I  had,  therefore,  no  chance  of 
burning  powder  among  their  serried  files,  which  kept 
out  of  the  range  of  the  best  rifie.  From  time  to  time, 
as  a  merlin  or  a  gray  eagle  pounced  upon  their  rear- 
guard, a  compact  mass  was  formed,  which,  like  to  a  ser- 
pent, wreathed  in  a  thousand  folds,  to  avoid  the  attacks 
of  the  bird  of  prey ;  then,  the  danger  escaped,  or  some 
poor  victim  carried  ofi*,  the  column  resumed  its  rapid 
progress  through  the  transparent  azure. 

During  the  three  days  of  my  stay  at  Hartford,  the 
population  never  laid  aside  their  weapons.  All — men 
and  children — had  a  double-barrelled  gun  or  a  rifle  in  their 
hands  ;  and  ambushed  in  a  wood,  behind  a  rock,  or  on 
the  banks  of  a  river,  wherever  a  sufiicient  covert  could 
be  obtained,  they  waited  a  favourable  moment  to  test 
their  skill  and  thin  the  immense  body  above  their  heads. 
In  the  evening  the  conversation  of   everybody  turned 


'^  TOUJOURS  PERDRIX  !  "  129 

upon  the  pigeons,  on  the  conditions  of  each  fortunate  or 
unfortunate  shot,  and  on  the  chances  of  the  morrow's 
sport. 

For  three  days  nothing  was  eaten  but  boiled,  or  broiled, 
or  stewed,  or  baked  pigeons ;  and  the  air  was  so  impreg- 
nated with  their  odour,  that  one  seemed  to  be  living  in 
an  immense  poultry-yard. 

An  arithmetician  of  the  district  made  a  sufficiently 
curious  approximative  calculation  of  the  number  of  indi- 
viduals composing  these  extraordinary  legions,  and  of  the 
enormous  quantity  of  food  necessary  to  their  sustenance. 
Taking,  for  example,  a  column  about  five  hundred  yards  in 
breadth — which  is  much  below  the  ordinary  measurement 
— and  allowing  three  hours  for  the  birds  composing  it  to 
accomplish  their  flight,  as  its  swiftness  was  five  hundred 
yards  a  minute,  its  length  would  be  two  hundred  thou- 
sand yards.  Supposing,  now,  that  each  square  yard  was 
occupied  by  ten  pigeons,  we  may  conclude  that  their  total 
number  amounted  to  a  billion,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
millions,  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand ;  and  as  each 
member  of  a  pigeonry  daily  consumes  a  quarter  of  a  bushel 
of  seeds  or  fruits,  the  daily  nourishment  of  a  single  band 
would  not  require  less  than  one  hundred  millions,  seven 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand  bushels  of  all  kinds  of  pro- 
visions.    What  a  formidable  appetite  ! 

Immediately  the  pigeons  discover,  in  the  territory  over 
which  they  are  passing,  whether  upon  the  trees  or  the 
ground,  a  quantity  of  food  sufficient  to  make  it  worth 
their  while  to  halt,  you  may  see  them  whirl  round  and 
round,  the  azure  prisms  of  their  splendid  plumage  flash- 
ing in  the  sun,  and  passing  thus   from  bright  blue  to 

(4U)  9 


130  PIGEON-SHOOTING  EXTRAORDINARY. 

deep  purple  and  the  most  sparkling  gold.  Observe  them 
disappearing  behind  yon  wood  of  oaks,  and  plunging  into 
the  midst  of  their  foliage.  Suddenly,  the  boldest  reap- 
pear. At  a  single  bound  they  precipitate  themselves  to 
the  earth,  and  cover  the  soil.  If  a  sudden  terror  seizes 
them,  they  resume  their  flight  with  such  rapidity,  that 
the  rustling  of  their  wings  produces  a  commotion  which 
may  well  terrify  a  person  ignorant  of  the  cause.  But  if 
the  alarm  be  groundless,  and  their  apprehensions  are  re- 
moved, again  they  scatter  themselves  all  over  the  ground, 
coming  and  going,  crossing  each  other  in  every  direction, 
and  displaying,  in  short,  a  series  of  movements  impos- 
sible to  be  described  in  words.  The  ground  on  which 
they  settle  is  soon  so  completely  stripped  that  it  would  be 
lost  labour  to  seek  for  a  single  grain  ! 

This  is  the  moment  selected  by  the  Kentucky  hunters 
for  firing  upon  the  horde,  and  making  terrible  gaps  in  its 
multitudinous  ranks,  At  mid-day  the  birds,  well-fed  and 
with  their  crops  full  of  food,  repose  on  the  neighbouring 
trees  and  digest  their  booty ;  but  no  sooner  does  the  sun 
sink  below  the  horizon  than  all  take  flight,  and  hasten 
to  regain  the  general  rendezvous,  which  is  sometimes 
more  than  forty  leagues  distant  from  the  spot  where  they 
have  passed  the  day. 

Along  the  waters  of  the  Green  River,  in  Kentucky, 
I  saw  the  most  magnificent  roosting-place  which  came 
across  my  notice  during  my  residence  in  the  United 
States.  It  was  situated  on  the  threshold  of  a  forest, 
whose  trees  were  of  immense  height ;  trunks  upright, 
tall,  and  isolated,  starting  up  straight  from  the  soil.     A 


PREPARING  FOR  THE  SPORT.  131 

company  of  sixty  hunters  had  just  installed  themselves 
in  the  environs,  escorted  by  vehicles  loaded  with  provi- 
sions and  warlike  munitions.  They  had  raised  their 
tents,  and  a  couple  of  negro  cooks  were  preparing  the 
dinner.  Among  them  were  two  Glasgow  farmers,  who 
had  brought  a  herd  of  three  hundred  pigs  to  fatten  upon 
pigeons,  and  thus,  in  a  very  short  time,  fit  them  for  the 
market.  On  my  arrival  in  the  camp  I  was  astonished, 
nay,  stupified,  by  the  quantity  of  slaughtered  pigeons 
which  strewed  the  ground.  Fifteen  women  were  engaged 
in  plucking  them,  cleansing  and  salting  them,  and  pack- 
ing them  in  barrels.  What  surprised  me  most  was  to 
learn  from  the  hunters  that,  though  the  roosting-place 
was  empty  through  the  day,  every  night  it  was  covered 
with  myriads  of  pigeons  returning  from  Indiana,  where 
they  had  spent  the  day  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of 
Coridon,  thus  accomplishing  a  flight  of  one  hundred 
leagues.  It  is  useless  to  say  that  next  morning  they  re- 
sumed the  same  route  at  early  dawn.  The  ground  over 
the  whole  area  of  the  roosting-place  was  covered  with 
guano,  one  or  two  inches  thick.  At  your  first  view  of 
this  gray-coloured  soil,  these  denuded  trees — their  branches 
leafless  and  without  sap — you  would  have  supposed  that 
it  was  already  the  middle  of  winter,  or  that  some  tornado 
had  devastated  the  forest  and  withered  the  surrounding 
scenery. 

The  hunters  began  their  sport  in  the  evening,  and  lost 
no  time  in  making  the  necessary  preparations.  Some 
})acked  up  sulphur  in  small  iron  pots ;  others  armed 
themselves  with  long  poles,  like  bakers'  peels ;  some 
carried    torches    made    of  resin  and   branches  of  pine ; 


132  ^'  THE  CRY  IS,  STILL  THEY  COME." 

others — and  these  the  leaders  of  the  troop — were  armed 
with  single  and  double-barrelled  guns,  loaded  almost  to 
the  muzzle  with  powder  and  shot. 

At  sunset  each  man  took  up  his  position  in  silence, 
though  not  a  bird  was  yet  visible  on  the  horizon.  Sud- 
denly, I  heard  these  words  repeated  by  every  hunter  : — 

"  Here  they  come  ! " 

In  fact,  the  horizon  grew  dark  ;  and  the  noise  made 
by  the  pigeons  resembled  that  of  the  terrible  mistral  of 
Provence  as  it  plunges  into  the  gorges  of  the  Apennines. 

When  the  column  of  pigeons  swept  above  my  head,  I 
experienced  a  shudder,  the  effect  partly  of  astonishment 
and  partly  of  cold ;  for  the  displacement  of  air  occasioned 
an  unusual  atmospheric  current.  Meantime,  the  poles 
were  waving  to  and  fro,  bringing  down  thousands  of 
pigeons.  The  fires  had  all  been  kindled  as  if  by 
magic.  I  was  witness  of  an  admirable  spectacle.  The 
pigeons  arrived  by  millions,  rushing  headlong  one  upon 
another,  pressing  close  together  like  the  bees  in  a  swarm 
which  has  escaped  from  its  hive  in  the  month  of  May. 
The  lofty  tops  of  the  overloaded  roosting-place  cracked, 
and,  falling  to  the  ground,  carried  down  with  them  the 
pigeons  which  had  perched  upon  the  branches.  So  great 
was  the  noise,  that  you  could  not  hear  your  neighbour 
speak,  though  he  exerted  himself  with  all  his  strength. 
It  was  with  difficulty  you  could  distinguish  an  occasional 
shot,  though  you  saw  the  hunters  constantly  reloading 
their  weapons.  We  all  kept  to  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  falling  branches ;  and  thus  the 
massacre  continued  throughout  the  night,  though  after 
eleven  o'clock  the  passage  of  the  pigeons  had  wholly 
ceased. 


A  DEPARTURE  AT  DAYBREAK.  133 

A  peculiarity  worthy  of  being  mentioned  here  is,  that 
despite  of  the  terror  which  they  experienced,  the  pigeons 
did  not  abandon  the  accustomed  roosting- place  j  and 
that  neither  the  blazing  torches,  nor  the  fusillade,  nor  the 
shouts,  were  able  to  stir  them  into  flight.  A  man  who 
arrived  at  our  camp  in  the  morning,  assured  us  that  he 
had  heard  the  clang  and  clamour  a  quarter  of  a  league 
before  he  came  upon  the  scene  of  action. 

At  daybreak  the  whole  army  of  pigeons  sprung  into 
the  air  to  fly  in  search  of  their  daily  food.  The  noise 
was  then  indescribable  and  truly  frightful.  It  could 
only  be  compared  to  the  simultaneous  discharge  of  a 
battery  of  cannon.  And  scarcely  was  the  roosting-groTind 
vacated,  before  wolves  and  panthers  and  foxes  and  ja- 
guars, and  all  the  rapacious  animals  of  the  American 
forests,  came  forward  in  gi-eat  numbers  to  take  part  in 
the  quarry.  At  the  same  time,  falcons  and  buzzards 
and  tawny  and  gray  eagles,  to  say  nothing  of  crows  and 
screech-owls,  hovered  above  our  heads,  to  carry  away  a 
portion  of  the  booty. 

The  hunters  levied  their  tithe,  and  out  of  this  mass  of 
dead  and  dying  selected  the  plumpest  pigeons,  with  which 
they  loaded  their  waggons,  leaving  the  young  fiy  to  the 
dogs  and  pigs  of  the  association. 

As  for  myself,  since  I  had  taken  part  in  the  general 
massacre  rather  as  an  amateur  than  as  an  interested 
person,  I  only  carried  ofi*  a  magnificent  feather,  snatched 
from  the  wing  of  an  eagle  which  I  had  knocked  down  on 
a  pile  of  carcasses. 

Two  months  after  this  memorable  hunt,  of  which  3 
have  preserved  a  very  lively  recollection,  I  found  myself, 


134  SWARMS  UPON  SWARMS. 

one  morning,  on  the  quay  of  East  Kiver,  at  New  York, 
when  my  eyes  were  attracted  by  the  following  inscription, 
painted  in  black  letters  on  a  strip  of  sail-cloth  :  "  Wild 
Pigeons  for  Sale^  I  proceeded  on  board  a  small  coast- 
ing-vessel, and  was  shown  by  the  captain  several  baskets 
of  dead  pigeons,  which  had  been  killed  inland,  and  which 
he  offered  for  sale  at  three  cents  a  piece. 

A  Tennessee  planter  once  assured  me,  that  in  a  single 
day  he  had  caught,  with  a  net,  four  hundred  dozen 
pigeons.  His  negroes,  twenty  in  number,  were  thor- 
oughly worn  out  in  the  evening  with  knocking  down 
the  birds  that  had  traversed  his  estate. 

In  the  month  of  October  1848,  the  flights  of  pigeons 
in  the  state  of  New  York  were  so  considerable,  that 
these  birds  were  sold  on  the  quays  and  in  the  principal 
markets  at  the  rate  of  a  penny  a  piece.  Heads  of  fami- 
lies fed  their  servants  upon  them ;  and  the  latter,  could 
they  have  foreseen  the  event,  would  assuredly  have  in- 
cluded a  clause  in  their  agreements  providing  that  they 
should  not  have  pigeons  for  dinner  oftener  than  twice 
a  week, — ^just  as  in  Scotland  the  servants  in  the  great 
houses  made  it  an  express  condition  that  they  should  not 
be  compelled  to  eat  salmon  above  three  times. 

One  morning,  in  this  same  month  of  October  1848,  on 
the  heights  of  the  village  of  Hastings,  which  stretches 
along  the  Hudson  River,  I  fired  some  thirty  times  into 
a  swarm  of  pigeons,  securing  a  booty  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  birds.  This  number  included  about  eighty 
enormous  birds,  fat  and  plump  as  young  chickens.  I  was 
obliged  to  hail  a  negro,  who  passed  by  the  place  where  I 


PIGEONS  AT  HOME. 


135 


was  seated  with  my  feathered  spoil ;  and  I  gave  him  half 
a  dollar  to  carry  it  to  the  steam-boat  bound  for  New 
York. 

American  pigeons  are  found  everywhere  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Union ;  but,  in  general,  these  birds  select  the 
secluded  and  unfrequented  woods  on  the  borders  of  the 
civilized  districts,  and  the  vast  deserts  which  abut  on  the 


THE    MALE    MOUNTS   GUARD,   AND    PROTECTS    HIS    COMPANION. 


prairies.  The  season  of  incubation  offers  a  striking  con- 
trast to  the  chaotic  and  confused  scenes  which  I  have 
been  describing.  If  my  readers  accompanied  me  into  the 
leafy  depths  of  the  forests  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Missis- 
sippi, they  would  hear  nothing  but  incessant  cooings ; 
would  be  witnesses  only  of  proofs  of  tender  affection  and 
marks  of  tenderness  on  the  part  of  the  male  pigeon  to- 
wards his  mate.  Above  their  heads,  in  the  tree-tops,  the}'' 
would  perceive  a  host  of  close-packed  nests,  constructed  of 


136  PIGEON-MASSACRE. 

interlaced  and  interwoven  twigs,  so  as  to  form  a  slight 
concavity,  in  which  two  or  three  eggs  are  deposited. 
Upon  these  the  male  and  female  sit  alternately.  The 
male  alone  mounts  guard,  and  protects  his  companion. 
It  is  he  who  goes  forth  in  quest  of  provisions,  and  who 
returns  in  due  time  to  place  himself  on  the  nest  and 
shelter  its  treasures  with  his  wings. 

Very  frequently  the  incubation  succeeds,  and  crowns 
the  tender  efforts  of  the  affectionate  couple.  But  this 
fortunate  result  only  takes  place  when  man  has  not  dis- 
covered the  frail  aerial  dwelling.  Woe  to  the  birds  if 
any  hunters  or  settlers  pass  in  their  vicinity !  Massacres 
far  more  terrible  than  those  I  have  described  ^'  incarna- 
dine "  the  ground,  and  strike  terror  in  the  heart  of  each 
inoffensive  household.  The  axe  strikes  at  the  trunks  of 
the  trees,  which  fall  in  the  clearifig,  and  bring  down  with 
them  the  young  pigeons,  and  the  nests  where  they  were 
hatched.  Caught,  killed,  and  roasted,  they  are  eaten 
before  the  very  eyes  of  their  parents,  who  fly  around  the 
butchers  of  their  progeny,  and  fill  the  echoes  of  the  forest 
with  pitiful  cries,  which  pass  all  unheeded  by  the  savage 
hunters. 

As  the  reader  will  infer  from  the  foregoing  remarks, 
this  variety  of  game  is,  in  America,  threatened  with 
destruction.  In  proportion  as  civilization  extends  into 
the  vast  wildernesses  of  the  West,  men  increase  in 
number,  and  the  human  race,  which  everywhere  reigns 
despotically,  and  permits  no  restraint  upon  its  tyranny, 
gradually  destroys  the  communities  of  animals.  Already 
the  deer,  the  goats,  and  the  great  horned  cattle  which 
peopled  the  ancient  colonies  of  England,  have  almost  dis- 
appeared in  the  principal  states  of  the  Union.     The  herds 


PROBABLE  DISAPPEARANCE  OF  THE  GAME.  137 

of  bisons  which,  a  hundred  years  ago,  pastured  peacefully 
on  the  savannahs  beyond  the  Mississippi,  see  their  ranks 
thinning  daily ;  while  the  skeletons  of  their  fellows,  slain 
by  trappers  and  emigrants  and  Indians,  whiten  on  the 
ground,  and  mark  the  gradual  advance  of  man.  Every- 
thing leads  to  the  belief  that  the  pigeons,  which  cannot 
endure  isolation,  forced  to  fly  or  to  change  their  habits 
as  the  territory  of  North  America  shall  become  peopled 
with  the  overplus  of  Europe,  will  eventually  disappear 
from  this  continent ;  and  if  the  world  endure  a  century 
longer,  I  will  wager  that  the  amateur  of  ornithology  will 
find  no  pigeons  except  in  select  Museums  of  Natural 
History 


effete 


CHAPTEE  X. 


THE    PRAIRIE    DOGS. 


F  ever  an  inoffensive  republic  existed  in  tlio 
world,  it  is  certainly  that  of  the  American 
marmots,  the  so-called  jorairie  dogs.  Among 
them,  each  individual  lives  as  he  pleases,  in 
entire  simplicity,  without  dreaming  of  evil,  without  thought 
of  injury  to  his  neighbour,  of  disjDossessing  him,  or  cheat- 
ing him,  or  living  at  his  expense. 

There  no  government  exists,  and  no  conspiracies  occur. 
There  are  neither  presidents,  nor  consuls,  nor  magistrates, 
nor  militia,  nor  policemen.  What  would  be  the  good  of 
them  *?  If  the  marmot  of  the  prairies — little  member  as 
he  is  of  the  great  family  of  the  Rodents  ! — be  vivacious, 
headstrong,  and  sometimes  even  petulant,  he  is,  on  the 
other  hand,  a  social  and  sociable  animal,  who  never  dis- 


A  PRAIRIE  DOG  VILLAGE.  139 

turbs  the  public  order.  He  is,  in  a  word,  a  pattern  for 
all  created  beings. 

I  had  often  wished,  during  my  residence  in  the  United 
States,  to  visit  one  of  their  gigantic  burrows;  an  ani- 
mated, buzzing,  and  swarming  labyrinth.  No  opportun- 
ity offered,  until,  one  evening,  after  a  hunt  with  the 
Redskins.  One  of  the  companions  of  the  Pawnee  chief, 
Rahm-o-j-or,  who  had  strayed  to  some  distance  from  our 
troop,  had  fallen  in  with  a  picturesque  little  valley,  on 
the  sunny  slope  of  a  hill,  and  here,  in  the  solitude,  he  had 
discovered  "  a  village  of  prairie  dogs."  In  the  evening, 
coming  up  with  our  caravan,  he  informed  us  of  what  he 
had  seen. 

Early  the  next  morning,  all  my  friends  and  I  mounted 
our  horses  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  this  curious  phalan- 
stery. What  I  had  heard  about  the  prairie  dogs  made 
me  approach  their  vast  burrow  with  a  sportsman's  curi- 
osity added  to  a  naturalist's  scientific  interest. 

Before  reaching  the  summit  of  the  hill  whose  slope 
was  occupied  by  the  marmots,  we  dismounted  from  our 
steeds,  and,  fastening  them  to  a  row  of  trees,  advanced 
cautiously  and  silently  in  the  direction  of  the  village. 

I  know  not  whether  the  instinct  of  the  prairie  dogs 
had  been  awakened  by  the  sound  of  our  footsteps,  but, 
on  our  approach,  their  sentinels  gave  the  alarm,  and 
decamped  towards  the  nearest  openings  to  seek  shelter 
with  their  comrades.  The  latter,  prudently  maintaining 
their  position  on  their  hind-legs  at  the  entrance  of  their 
burrows,  aroused  the  echoes  with  a  peculiar  yelping,  and 
then,  after  engaging  in  some  fantastic  capers,  disappeared 
each  into  his  respective  cell. 

The  "village  of  prairie  dogs"  lying  before  our  eyes 


140  SEEING,  BUT  NOT  SEEN. 

occupied  an  area  of  about  twenty  acres.  Everywhere 
the  ground  was  mined,  and  opened  up,  and  covered  with 
indurated  cones  which  bore  witness  to  the  assiduous  sub- 
terranean toil  of  these  animals.  We  sounded  several  of 
the  holes  with  our  ramrods;  but  so  great  was  their  depth 
that  we  could  not  reach  a  single  individual  of  the  re- 
public. 

.  There  was  but  one  resource  left  us,  if  we  would  see  the 
marmots  at  our  ease ;  namely,  to  conceal  ourselves,  and 
wait  with  patience  until  mistrust  had  given  place  to  con- 
fidence. Nature  favoured  our  design ;  for,  on  the  borders 
of  the  village,  and  in  the  hollow  of  the  valley,  she  had 
planted  a  row  of  dwarf  cedars,  whose  tufted  branches 
were  well  adapted  to  hide  us  from  the  sharpest  eyes,  and 
permit  us  to  see  without  being  seen. 

We  withdrew,  therefore,  with  the  least  possible  noise, 
and,  each  having  chosen  his  position,  we  remained  almost 
motionless,  preserving  entire  silence,  and  our  eyes  fixed 
on  the  village,  whose  gates  and  windows,  though  wide 
open,  did  not  appear  to  be  frequented. 

After  awhile,  a  few  cunning  old  fellows  cautiously 
thrust  forth  the  tip  of  their  nose  at  the  entrance  of  one 
of  the  galleries,  and  then  immediately  vanished.  Others 
made  a  rapid  leap  outside,  but  only  to  rush  from  one 
orifice  to  another. 

At  length,  some  of  the  marmots,  reassured  by  the  tran- 
quillity which  reigned  around,  and  persuaded  that  all 
danger  was  past,  glided  out  of  their  dens  ;  they  traversed 
hastily  a  space  tolerably  distant  from  the  hole  whence 
they  had  emerged,  to  enter  into  another  burrow.  You 
might  have  thought  they  were  going  to  visit  a  friend  or 
relation  to  relate  the  fright  they  had  experienced,  to  dis- 


AX  ORATOR  AND  HIS  AUDIENCE.  141 

CUSS  with  him  the  probable  causes  of  the  alarm ;  to  ex- 
change, in  a  word,  their  mutual  impressions  and  compare 
observations  on  the  vision  which  had  passed  before  their 
eyes. 

Other  and  more  audacious  marmots  collected  in  small 
groups  in  the  middle  of  the  streets,  and  their  discussions, 
I  doubt  not,  turned  upon  the  outrage  committed  by  the 
invasion  of  the  republic,  as  well  as  upon  the  best  means 
of  defence.  Sometimes  an  orator  sprang  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  a  hillock  which  commanded  the  whole  assemblage, 
and  thence  explained  his  views,  his  projects,  and  his 
principles  of  strategy.  Sometimes,  seized  with  unwonted 
fear,  all  the  crowd  dashed  headlong  into  the  various 
orifices,  and  vanished  quickly,  to  reappear  at  a  consider- 
able distance,  and  recommence  the  same  manoeuvres.  It 
was  very  curious  to  observe  the  braggart  ways  of  these 
marmots ;  they  seemed  as  if  they  would  defy  the  thunder, 
and  yet  they  fled  at  the  least  whisper  of  the  breeze,  at 
the  niost  imperceptible  agitation  of  the  atmosphere. 

After  watching  the  spectacle  for  some  time,  I  proposed 
to  my  comrades  the  termination  of  a  uselessly  protracted 
"seance."  And  we  agreed  that  each  should  mark  down 
a  marmot  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  that  we  should 
fire  simultaneously  on  my  clucking  my  tongue  against 
my  palate. 

This  was  done  :  a  simultaneous  discharge  was  effected, 
and  when  the  smoke  cleared  away,  there  remained  not  a 
prairie  dog  before  us,  except  the  six  which  lay  at  the 
mouth  of  their  burrows. 

It  is  asserted  that  of  these  burrows  the  prairie  dogs 
are  not  the  only  inhabitants,   and   that  they  have  for 


1  1:2  OWLS  AND  MARMOTS. 

companions  owls  and  rattlesnakes.  The  parasites  live 
at  the  expense  of  the  prairie  dogs,  who  serve  them  as 
builders,  and  too  often,  it  is  said,  for  food.  They  prey 
upon  the  industrious  little  creatures  who  provide  them 
with  a  dwelling-place. 

"We  were  desirous  of  obtaining  a  confirmation  of  this 
statement,  but  all  our  researches  proved  fruitless ;  we 
did  not  see  the  tail  of  an  owl,  nor  hear  the  slightest 
rustling  of  a  rattlesnake.  This  republic  of  the  prairie 
of  the  Pawnees  was,  perhaps,  more  fortunate  than  others, 
and  had  succeeded  in  expelling  from  its  limits  the  in- 
truders who  do  so  much  injury  in  similar  communities. 

I  was  informed  that  the  ow^ls  who  generally  secrete 
themselves  in  the  burrows  of  the  American  marmots 
belong  to  a  very  peculiar  race ;  their  eyes  are  more 
brilliantly  transparent,  their  flight  is  more  rapid,  and 
their  feet  are  more  erect  than  those  of  the  common 
owls.  Daylight  does  not  frighten  them  as  it  does  their 
congeners.  The  American  naturalists  affirm  that,  as  a 
rule,  these  owls  do  not  take  possession  of  the  burrows  ex- 
cavated by  the  marmots  unless  the  latter  have  abandoned 
them  on  account  of  the  death  of  one  of  their  number. 

For  it  would  seem  that  the  American  marmot  carries 
his  sensibility  to  such  an  excess,  as,  immediately  a  single 
member  of  his  community  dies,  to  emigrate  from  the 
place. 

Others  have  assured  me  that  the  owl  acted  as  a  pro- 
tector, as  a  sentinel,  as  a  tutor  even  to  the  young  mar- 
mots, whom  he  taught  to  cry — even  before  he  strangled 
them  ! 

So  far  as  relates  to  the  rattlesnake,  he  seems  to  play  a 


RECONNOITRING  THE  ENEMY.  143 

more  decided  and  more  skilfully  meditated  part  than  the 
bird  of  prey.  In  the  domestic  economy  of  these  interest- 
ing phalansteries,  he  acts  as  a  true  sycophant,  who 
audaciously  invades  the  asylum  of  the  honest  and  credu- 
lous marmot.  Nevertheless,  in  his  leisure  hours  he 
crunches  one  of  the  offspring  of  his  hosts,  and  we  may 
easily  infer  that  he  secretly  permits  himself  some  com- 
pensations beyond  and  in  addition  to  those  accorded  to 
drudging  parasites. 

A  few  weeks  later,  as  we  were  returning  to  Saint 
Louis,  we  discovered  one  evening,  near  the  camp,  an 
immense  burrow  of  prairie  dogs,  excavated  in  a  valley 
formed  by  two  ridges  of  calcareous  rocks,  not  far  from  a 
spring  flowing  in  the  midst  of  these  rocks,  and  feeding  a 
silvery  brook,  which  watered  the  entire  length  of  the 
valley.  The  clatter  of  our  horses'  hoofs  had  terrified  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  subterranean  village ;  two  enormous 
owls  alone,  perched  upon  a  hillock,  remained  to  recon- 
noitre the  enemy  who  was  invading  their  territory.  Proud 
and  bold  as  fighting-cocks,  they  seemed  to  defy  danger ; 
their  large  open  eyelids  discovered  eyes  shining  like  phos- 
phorus. Two  long  plumes,  like  horns,  surmounted  their 
head,  and  gave  them  a  very  fantastical  aspect.  You 
would  readily  have  taken  them  to  be  the  guardians  of 
a  devastated  graveyard.  So  they  waited  our  coming, 
until  we  had  got  them  within  rifle  range;  then  suddenly, 
and  without  our  being  able  to  explain  how  it  was  done, 
they  disappeared  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  like  Bertram 
in  the  fifth  act  of  Meyerbeer's  Robert  le  Diahle.  One  of 
my  hunting  companions  even  went  so  far  as  to  declare 
that  he  saw  a  flame  leap  up  from  the  spot  where  each 


TU  A  NOCTURNAL  COMPANION. 

owl  had  mysteriously  vanished; — but  this  is  not  his- 
tory ! 

The  countryside  where  we  had  pitched  our  evening  on- 
campment  was  picturesquely  diversified  by  coppices  of 
every  kind  of  wood — pines,  oaks,  firs,  cedars,  wild  cherries, 
and  American  hawthorns.  Groups  of  hickory  and  sumac 
completed  this  rich  variety.  We  therefore  experienced 
no  difficulty  in  kindling  our  bivouac  fire.  The  atmos- 
phere was  fresh ;  and  my  comrades  stretched  themselves, 
according  to  custom,  upon  beds  of  dried  leaves,  the  head 
and  body  well  wrapped  up  in  a  woollen  coverlet,  and  the 
feet  turned  towards  the  fire.  I  had  been  absent  all  the 
evening,  in  the  hope  of  hunting  down  a  deer ;  on  my  re- 
turn, I  began  to  prepare  a  litter  for  my  own  accommodation. 

At  the  foot  of  an  old  oak,  in  a  hollow  of  the  rock,  the 
wind  had  accumulated  a  great  quantity  of  leaves  ;  nothing, 
I  thought,  could  be  easier  than  to  lay  down  my  wrapper 
and  pile  upon  it  all  this  debris.  I  returned  to  the  fire, 
where  a  place  had  been  reserved  for  me,  and,  without 
more  ado,  got  ready  my  bed.  All  at  once  a  strange  noise 
arose  in  the  middle  of  the  heaped-up  leaves.  I  examined 
my  litter,  and  started  back  in  afiright  before  a  horrible 
rattlesnake,  which,  with  uncoiled  body  and  head  erect, 
darted  at  me  its  forked  tongue.  To  snatch  from  the  fire 
a  burning  brand,  and  beat  the  reptile  to  death,  was  the 
work  of  a  moment. 

I  turned  over  my  litter,  to  make  sure  that  it  contained 
no  similar  occupant.  Conceive,  if  you  can,  my  horror 
and  disgust !  Nearly  a  dozen  young  serpents,  coiled  to- 
gether, aroused  by  my  pokes  and  thrusts,  emerged  from 
the  pile  of  leaves,  and  took  flight  in  every  direction.  My 
comrades,  aroused  by  my  cries,  immediately  sprung  to 


A  BATTLE  WITH  RATTLESNAKES. 


145 


"to  snatch  from  the  fire  a  burning  brand.'' 


their  feet,  and  assisted  me  to  pursue  them  ;  but  such 
were  the  agility  and  diligence  of  the  young  rattlesnakes, 
that  all  but  two  escaped. 

(414)  10 


1  46  A  SINGULAR  SPECTACLE. 

'J'his  incident  naturally  kept  us  awake  for  a  great  part  of 
the  night.  The  rattle  of  the  abominable  creatures  echoed  in 
(jur  ears ;  and  so  great  was  the  abhorrence  which  we  all 
entertained  for  them,  that  though,  according  to  all  appear- 
ance, our  presence  had  put  them  effectually  to  flight,  we 
felt  just  as  uneasy  as  if  we  were  still  surrounded  by  them. 
Fatigue  and  sleepiness,  however,  finally  prevailed  over  our 
imagination.  We  fell  asleep,  and  did  not  wake  until  the 
day  was  far  advanced. 

Before  us  rose,  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  the  phalanstery 
of  the  prairie  dogs ;  and  as  our  horses  were  asleep,  as  our 
fire  was  extinguished,  and  as  no  human  movement  troubled 
the  tranquillity  of  nature,  our  eyes  were  struck  by  a  singu- 
larly fantastic  spectacle. 

Before  us  were  upwards  of  a  thousand  marmots,  a 
hundred  owls,  and  as  many  rattlesnakes,  leaping  from 
one  burrow  to  another,  flying  and  hovering,  crawling  and 
hissing.  Our  blood  froze  in  our  veins,  and  yet  we  were 
chained  to  the  spot. 

At  length  we  were  compelled  to  quit  this  dangerous 
neighbourhood.  We  arose,  and  all  disappeared,  except 
the  serpents,  which  from  time  to  time  raised  their  heads 
above  the  openings  to  the  burrows,  and  glided  outside. 
An  hour  after  sunrise  we  had  reached  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi.  We  had  no  more  danger  to  fear,  and  felt 
ourselves  secure  under  the  segis  of  American  civilization. 


CHAPTER    XL 


THE  WILD  CAT. 


ILD  cats  are  most  numerous  in  the  southern 
states  of  Louisiana  and  the  two  Carolinas. 
The  marshes  and  marshy  brushwood  which 
extend  along  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  the  dense  forests  inundated  by  the  overflow  of  the 
rivers  Pamlico  and  Santee,  afibrd  a  covert  and  an  asylum 
to  these  dangerous  animals,  which  commit  such  havoc 
among  game  of  every  description.  And  what  is  worst  is, 
that,  in  spite  of  the  persistent  manner  in  which  they  are 
hunted  by  the  American  farmers  and  sportsmen,  they  are 
as  numerous  now  as  they  ever  were  :  it  would  seem  as  if 
the  destruction  of  the  race  were  an  impossibility. 


The  Americans  look  upon  the  chase  of  the  wild  cat  as 


148  THE  WILD  CAT  OF  AMERICA. 

one  of  tlie  most  exciting  of  their  national  sports.  It  is  a 
pastime  wliich  they  appreciate  as  highly  as  Englishmen 
a^Dpreciate  a  fox-hunt.  In  fact,  the  cat  is  in  the  United 
States  what  the  fox  is  in  Great  Britain.  It  is  true,  how- 
ever, that  there  are  no  red  coats  among  its  hunters ;  the 
costume  of  the  planters  ^nd  their  friends  is  exceedingly 
simple,  and,  apart  from  the  great  boots  which  come  mid- 
way up  the  thigh,  the  remainder  of  their  attire  is  of  un- 
paralleled plainness.  The  only  thing  borrowed  by  the 
liunters  of  the  New  World  from  those  of  the  Old  is  the 
liorn,  which  they  make  use  of  ad  libitum,  without  con- 
fining themselves  to  the  notes  used  by  the  huntsmen  of 
Europe.  The  horn  with  them  has  but  one  object :  to 
make  a  noise,  and  celebrate  a  victory. 

The  wild  cat  of  the  United  States  is  an  enormous 
animal,  with  no  relation  to  that  of  Europe,  except  in 
form,  and  sometimes  in  its  fur.  I  do  not  think  I  have 
seen  anywhere  such  large  cats  as  those  of  the  two  Caro- 
linas.  Their  reddish  skin,  diagonally  streaked  with  deep 
coloured  bands ;  their  tail,  as  bushy  as  that  of  a  fox  ; 
their  velvety  ears,  not  unlike  those  of  a  lynx, — all  to- 
gether gives  one  a  complete  idea  of  a  small  tiger  of  a 
particular  species. 

The  negroes  of  the  Southern  States,  in  their  picturesque, 
familiar  language,  describe  the  character  of  the  cat  in  the 
following  manner  : — A  vermin  as  voracious  as  a  pawn- 
broker, stingy  as  a  briefless  lawyer,  wild  as  a  peccary, 
and  as  insensible  to  pain  as  a  Southern  planter  or  a 
turtle.  Finally,  say  they,  to  shorten  the  picture,  this 
wild  beast  is  like  a  woman,  because  you  cannot  compare 
her  with  any  other  than  herself. 

On  examining,  for  the  first  time,  the  head  of  a  wild 


A  MORTAL  COMBAT.  149 

cat;  I  was  singularly  struck  by  its  close  resemblance  to 
that  of  a  rattlesnake ;  it  had  the  same  expression  of 
wickedness,  the  same  jaws,  the  same  structure  of  the 
teeth.  I  made  this  comparison  all  the  more  easily  be- 
cause one  of  the  negroes  who  accompanied  us  had  killed 
a  rattlesnake,  and  carried  it  triumphantly  at  the  end  of  a 
carob  branch.  This  reminds  me  that,  one  morning,  in 
South  Carolina,  on  the  borders  of  the  immense  marsh 
called  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp,  I  had  strayed  from  the 
hunt,  followed  by  my  faithful  dog  Black ;  I  endeavoured 
to  retrace  my  route,  and  was  returning  towards  the  house 
where  I  spent  my  holidays,  when,  on  doubling  a  project- 
ing rock,  my  dog  suddenly  started  back,  with  bristling 
hair,  and  tail  between  his  legs,*  and  howling  hoarsely  to 
attract  my  attention.  I  looked  before  me,  and  could  not 
repress  a  cry  of  horror. 

About  forty  paces  distant  a  wild  cat  and  a  rattlesnake 
were  defying  each  other  to  the  combat ;  their  eyes  shot 
forth  flame  and  fire ;  one  hissed,  the  other  mewed.  The 
serpent  moved  in  folds,  marked  by  grace  and  suppleness ; 
the  cat  raised  his  back,  and  appeared  to  wait  for  an 
opportunity  of  pouncing  upon  his  enemy.  Suddenly  the 
serpent  made  a  spring,  but  the  cat  anticipated  it,  and 
leaped  aside ;  but  as  he  returned  to  the  attack,  the  ser- 
pent bit  him  in  the  lip,  and  though  grasped  immedi- 
ately in  the  wild  cat's  claws,  succeeded  in  infolding  his 
body  and  violently  compressing  it.  I  put  an  end  to  the 
agony  of  both  j  my  two  barrels  stretched  them  on  the 
ground,  dead,  and  incapable  henceforth  of  doing  any 
injury. 

According  to  the  Indians,  the  rattlesnake  lives  on  tho 
pestiferous  air  of  the  marshes,  and  on  all  corrupted  matter, 


150 


FATTENING  WILD  CATS. 


THEIR   EYES   SHOT   FORTH   FLAME   AND    FIRE. 


while  the  wild  cat  is  nourished  by  the  result  of  the  quarrels 
of  headstrong  and  deceitful  persons ;  so,  when  the  Red- 
skins would  refer  to  the  internal  dissensions  of  a  family 
of  their  tribe,  they  say,  in  their  semi-oriental  language  : 

*^  In  the  wigwam  of  X wild  cats  are  fattened." 

-  In  hunting  the  "  tom-cats  "  of  the  American  swamps, 


UNSUCCESSFUL  SHOOTING.  151 

the  hunters  generally  make  use  of  pistols.  It  is  not  that 
the  majority  are  unskilled  in  the  management  of  this 
weapon ;  but,  by  means  of  their  revolvers,  it  is  possible 
for  them  to  wound  the  cat,  when  he  begins  to  leap  from 
tree  to  tree,  and  renders  the  fun  of  the  sportsmen  more 
complete.  In  a  word,  the  animal  is  a  living  target, 
against  which  each  person  displays  his  skill.  Such  a 
mode  of  hunting  is  not  in  agreement,  certainly,  with  the 
^^  law  Grammontj"  but  as  the  French  legislator  is  un- 
known across  the  seas,  and  as,  in  general,  hunters  are  not 
gifted  with  any  very  tender  sensibilities,  especially  towards 
wild  beasts,  amongst  which  the  wild  cat  is  accorded  a 
foremost  place,  I  will  abstain  from  any  further  remarks 
upon  this  point. 

On  one  occasion  I  was  witness  of  a  wild  cat  hunt, 
which  terminated  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner.  The 
tree  on  which  the  animal  had  sought  refuge  was  a 
monster  poplar,  tall  as  a  mast,  all  of  one  girth,  and 
with  its  umbrageous  crest  apparently  lost  among  the 
clouds.  The  cat,  having  dodged  the  hounds,  had  clam- 
bered up  the  trunk  to  the  leafy  tuft  forming  its  crest, 
whose  form  resembled  that  of  a  mushroom  placed  on  the 
summit  of  a  cane.  At  length  we  discovered  him  crouch- 
ing on  one  of  the  thicker  branches,  close  to  the  stem,  and 
from  thence  looking  down  upon  us  as  inferior  creatures, 
with  an  impertinence  amounting  to  a  defiance.  In  vain 
we  fired  at  the  creature  a  dozen  pistols ;  he  was  so  well 
concealed,  or  rather,  let  me  confess  it,  we  were  so  un- 
skilful that  we  found  ourselves  without  munitions.  The 
dogs  dashed  themselves  against  the  foot  of  the  tree,  bark- 
ing furioiisly,  but  just  as  powerless  as  their  masters. 

All  at  once  we  caught  sight  of  a  liana,  whose  sprigs 


152  THIEVES  IN  A  POULTRY-YARD. 

passed  between  the  branch  on  which  the  cat  reposed  and 
the  body  of  the  animal.  Twining  round  the  poplar,  it  de- 
scended to  the  ground.  After  unfolding  it  carefully,  we  pro- 
ceeded to  separate  the  parasitical  plant  into  two  portions, 
and  so  well  contrived  our  measures  that,  by  giving  them 
a  violent  shake,  we  sent  the  cat  flying  into  the  air,  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him,  after  several  revolu- 
tions, fall  plump  upon  the  ground,  in  the  very  midst 
of  our  dogs,  whose  teeth  quickly  finished  him.  I  must 
confess  that  I  never  laughed  so  much  in  all  my  life, 
and  my  comrades  did  not  fail  to  give  free  course  to  their 
hilarity. 

I  shall  terminate  this  chapter  on  the  wild  cat  by  relat- 
ing one  of  the  incidents  of  my  residence  on  a  plantation  of 
South  Carolina,  situated  at  no  great  distance  from  Beau- 
fort, the  most  picturesque  town  in  that  state,  built  in 
the  centre  of  the  island  of  Port  Koyal. 

The  hour  of  eight  was  sounded  one  morning  by  the 
great  clock  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Potter,  the  host  to  whom 
I  had  been  introduced  by  a  friend,  with  the  view  of  join- 
ing in  an  exterminating  foray  against  some  wild  cats, 
whose  murderous  fangs  had  committed  great  ravages  in 
Mr.  Potter's  poultry-yard.  Our  horses  had  been  saddled 
and  bridled,  and  we  set  out,  five  in  number,  including 
the  doctor  of  the  plantation  and  myself,  and  accompanied 
by  a  mounted  huntsman  and  an  outrider,  holding  in  leash 
four  bloodhounds,  before  whom  frisked  and  gambolled 
three  pointers  and  a  spaniel.  At  about  a  mile  from  the 
house  we  entered  into  the  wood,  where  the  dogs,  con- 
tinuing to  advance  as  we  did,  soon  started,  now  a  snipe. 


A  SENTENCE  OF  DEATH.  153 

and  then  a  pheasant,  on  which  we  fired  as  best  we  could, 
without  always  bringing  down  our  game. 

Our  two-barrelled  rifles  were  loaded  with  ball  in  one 
barrel,  and  fowling-shot  in  the  other ;  so  that  we  were 
prepared  for  every  hazard. 

At  the  moment  the  bloodhounds  were  uncoupled  and 
let  loose  in  the  forest,  the  outrider  discovered  the  carcass 
of  a  hare,  half-devoured,  and  still  fresh, — a  proof  that  a 
wild  cat  was  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood.  Almost 
immediately  the  dogs  discovered  the  scent,  and  a  few 
minutes  afterwards  started  the  animal,  which  flew  past 
us  like  an  arrow,  and  disappeared  in  the  middle  of  a 
thicket  impracticable  for  human  beings. 

We  hastened  to  encircle  the  bush,  with  our  guns  to 
our  shoulders,  and  endeavoured  to  penetrate  the  obscurity 
of  the  leafage  ;  but  this  was  not  easy.  The  cat  kept  still 
in  his  fastness,  and  would  not  budge ;  the  dogs  made 
numerous  desperate  efforts  to  force  a  passage  through  the 
thorns. 

Suddenly,  the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard,  and  then 
another.     "  Ah,'^  cried  one  of  us,  "  is  he  dead  "l  '^ 

A  voice  replied,  "  He  has  got  some  shot  in  him." 

"  It  is  possible  !"  thought  I  to  myself,  but  no  one  would 
say  anything,  the  dogs  barked  so  lustily. 

Bang  !  a  third  report  !     ^'  Who  fired  1 " 

"  Judge  Daniel,''  replied  the  huntsman,  who  was  stand- 
ing a  few  paces  from  me. 

*^  A  sentence  of  death,  then,  that  means,"  I  replied  to 
my  neighbour  ;  ^^  lawyers  utter  no  other." 

But  what  is  all  this  stamping  ?  It  was  Judge  Daniel's 
horse.  Not  accustomed  to  the  reports  of  fire-arms,  and 
paying  no  attention  to  the  oaths  of  his  master  the  judge. 


154 


A  DOSE  OF  MEDICINE. 


the  horse  carried  him  away  in  the  direction  of  his  stable, 
where  he  not  unreasonably  hoped  to  find  a  more  tranquil 
condition  of  affairs. 

*^  A  prosperous  journey,  Judge  Daniel !  Don't  break 
your  neck,  and  we  will  continue  our  sport  without  you  ! " 

Patatras  !  Behold  him  dismounted  !  The  untamed 
and  victorious  horse  saved  himself  at  full  gallop  ;  but  the 
judge,  far  from  paying  any  attention  to  our  sarcasms, 
coolly  mounted  the  outrider's  animal. 

Bang  !  another  detonation  ! 

^'  It  is  the  doctor,"  cried  a  voice,  "  giving  Master  Tom  a 
dose  of  medicine  !  The  rascal,  however,  won't  die  of  it ! 
I  begin  to  think  the  beast  has  a  talisman  under  his  tail." 

All  of  us  laughed  at  the  mild  joke,  and  the  doctor 
himself  found  no  fault  with  it. 

The  dogs  renewed  the  attack ;  their  voice  was  louder 
and  more  vehement.  At  this  moment,  between  the 
branches  of  a  tulip-tree,  I  caught  sight  of  a  hairy  body 
hoisting  itself  along  with  every  precaution.  I  fired  in 
great  haste ;  a  stifled  mew  was  heard ;  Tom  was  dead. 
I  had  given  him  the  coup  de  grace. 

The  huntsman,  with  his  bowie-knife,  soon  cut  a  path 
into  the  thicket,  and  seizing  the  cat,  deposited  him  at  my 
feet. 

The  gigantic  animal  weighed  fourteen  pounds;  and 
while  we  were  examining  him,  and  preventing  the  dogs 
from  tearing  his  splendid  fur.  Judge  Daniel  approached, 
and  exclaimed, — 

"  This  is  not  the  cat  I  fired  at  !  This  is  a  leopard, 
while  the  other  was  much  larger  and  much  blacker ;  I 
saw  it  clearly  at  the  moment  it  rolled  on  the  ground, 
after  the  discharge  of  my  fowling-piece." 


KILLED  BY  SIX  SHOTS.  155 

"  I  agree  with  you,  judge,"  said  the  doctor  j.  "  I  fired 
at  a  black  cat ;  the  dogs  have  changed  our  cats  in  the 
middle  of  this  confounded  bush  !  " 

"  So  much  the  better,  gentlemen,"  said  I,  in  my  turn ; 
*'we  shall  have  two  cats  instead  of  one.  Hallo  there, 
my  dogs  !  tally  ho  ! "  And  I  hallooed  the  hounds  to- 
wards the  thicket,  at  the  point  where  the  judge  had  fired 
on  his  mysterious  black  quadruped.  But  they  returned 
to  my  cat,  and  would  not  listen  to  the  huntsman,  who 
vainly  attempted  to  bring  them  back  upon  the  second 
trail. 

''  Positively  and  really,"  cried  the  judge,  "  I  must  have 
been  blind ! " 

We  wished  to  throw  the  quarry  to  the  dogs,  and  the 
outrider  immediately  began  to  skin  it.  After  he  had 
stripped  off  the  skin  and  laid  open  the  chine,  it  was  easy 
enough  to  recognize  the  cat  as  the  same  at  which  each  of 
us  had  fired  in  his  turn.  Out  of  the  six  shots  four  had 
hit  it,  and  the  orifices  made  by  the  bullets  showed  that 
both  the  judge,  the  doctor,  my  host,  and  myself  had  fired 
at  the  same  animal. 

Our  dogs'  scent  was  better,  therefore,  than  the  doctor's 
sight.  Our  "medicine-man"  confessed  his  error  when 
his  ball  was  found  in  the  creature's  body,  lodged  between 
a  couple  of  muscles  in  the  hind-quarters.  According  to 
all  probability,  my  cat  had  a  changing  skin,  and  belonged 
to  the  race  of  chameleons. 

I  confess  that  I  was  not  weary  of  admiring  the  sharp, 
pointed  claws  of  the  beast — a  gigantic  one  for  his  species 
— his  flattened  skull,  his  green  eyes,  his  teeth  as  sharp  as 
a  bodkin,  and  his  reddish  skin,  spotted  with  white,  and 
diagonally  traversed  by  black  bands.     Finally,  when  the 


156  IN  A  MARSHY  HOLLOW. 

operation  of  flaying  was  terminated,  when  the  dogs  had 
devoured  the  animal's  smoking  entrails,  the  body  hang- 
ing suspended  to  a  branch  of  a  tree,  I  folded  up  the 
skin,  which  the  huntsman  thrust  into  a  canvas  bag  made 
for  the  purpose,  and,  each  remounting  his  horse,  we  con- 
tinued the  chase,  firing  here  and  there  at  a  moorfowl  or 
a  snipe  in  the  swamps  which  we  w^ere  traversing. 

At  length  we  arrived  in  a  marshy  hollow,  overgrown 
with  thick  and  intertangled  shrubs,  through  which  we 
forced  our  steeds  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 

Our  dogs  resumed  their  barking ;  each  of  us  took  up 
the  most  favourable  post  he  could  select,  and  from  time 
to  time  we  rose  in  our  stirrups  to  gain  a  good  view  of 
the  neighbourhood,  and  discover,  if  we  could,  what  ani- 
mal had  been  started  by  our  pack.  But  the  copse  was  as 
thick  as  a  wall,  and  we  could  see  nothing.  Our  dogs 
howled,  with  eyes  starting  out  of  their  heads,  and  sprang 
round  and  round  in  front  of  us,  on  the  borders  of  the 
wood,  which  was  as  impenetrable  to  our  feet  as  to  our 
eyes.  It  was  a  combination  of  shifting  sand  and  water, 
in  whose  midst  the  brambles  and  briers  had  woven  their 
branches  round  birches  as  straight  as  reeds.  A  complete 
fastness  rose  before  us  ;  impregnable  as  that  of  Cronstadt. 

At  length  the  dogs  stopped ;  their  short,  abrupt  barks, 
and  the  efforts  they  made  to  enter  into  the  thicket, 
proved  that  they  had  discovered  the  retreat  of  the  animal, 
whatever  it  was,  and  were  pressing  close  upon  it. 

Our  host  the  planter,  Mr.  Potter,  took  aim,  loosed  the 
trigger,  and  when  the  commotion  produced  by  the  dis- 
charge was  over,  we  distinctly  heard  a  noise  of  broken 
branches,  followed  by  the  fall  of  a  body  into  a  pool  of 
water. 


A  MERRY  CHASE.  157 

The  hounds  sprang  forward,  howling  as  if  they  were 
mad,  and  in  the  track  which  they  forced  through  the 
bushes  glided  the  outrider,  just  in  time  to  snatch  from 
their  claws  and  teeth  a  second  cat,  of  smaller  size  than 
the  first,  but  of  a  brilliantly-coloured  skin,  marked  by 
fantastic  designs. 

Still,  even  this  was  not  enough  to  satisfy  us ;  so  it  was 
decided  that  we  should  press  forward,  without  regarding 
the  difficulties  of  the  route. 

'^  Let  us  start,  gentlemen,"  cried  the  doctor,  "  I  answer 
for  the  life,  and  still  more  for  the  health,  of  everybody. 
Hallo  !  Here  are  our  dogs  giving  tongue  again  !  Bravo ! 
my  dogs,  bravo  ! " 

And  we  spurred  our  horses  into  a  smart  trot,  over  a 
drier  and  more  open  ground — a  kind  of  wild  English 
garden,  half  wood,  half  greensward — while  the  outrider 
indicated  the  various  phases  of  the  hunt  in  his  own  pecu- 
liar manner  :  '^  There  you  go  ! — Good  ! — On  with  you, 
Bello  ! — Here  you  are,  Annabella  ! — Ah,  they  keep  to 
the  right  ! — Good,  now  they  return  this  way  ! — Take 
carey  of  yourselves,  gentlemen  ! — How  they  bark  ! — 
Steady  ! — Close  in  ! — Good  !  —  Find  him  ! — Good  ! — 
There  he  is  ! " 

During  the  deliverance  of  this  soliloquy,  the  pack  con- 
tinued their  advance,  followed  by  all  the  hunters,  and  by 
the  whipper-in  himself,  who  ran  as  quickly  as  we  trotted, 
shouting  all  the  time.  In  this  manner  we  arrived  at  a 
very  thick  coppice,  where  the  scent  was  so  fresh  that  the 
dogs  did  not  hesitate  a  single  moment. 

Mr.  Potter  cried  out  to  us,  in  his  unparalleled  ardour 
for  this  certainly  attractive  sport, — 

^'  Take  care,  my  friends ;  don't  throw  the  dogs  out ; 


158 


LOSING  THE  SCENT. 


keep  close  to  me.  Listen  to  the  peculiar  voice  of  the 
dogs  as  they  come  near  the  brute.  It  is  the  key  of  Sol. 
I  recognize  it,  and  yet,  certainly,  it  is  not  a  stag  which 
they  are  following ;  of  that  I  am  sure.  Everything  leads 
me  to  think  that  it  is  a  cat.  Beware  of  that  prostrate 
trunk. — Well  leapt,  doctor  ! — Well  leapt  also,  Monsieur 
le  Erangais ! " 

Obedient  to  the  command  of  our  leader,  we  halted  our 
horses  before  another  bit  of  jungle,  bordered  on  one  side 


"THE    CAT    HAD    HOISTED    HIMSELF   UP    A   TREE." 

by  a  reedy  marsh.  It  was  composed  of  dwarf  palms, 
oaks,  cedars,  and  carob-trees  interlaced  with  lianas  and 
wild  vines.  At  intervals  a  gap  was  found,  through 
which  we  hoped  to  discover  the  animal.  Each  chose 
his  place,  with  his  eye  on  the  watch,  and  his  gun  to  his 
shoulder. 

Meanwhile,  the  ardour  of  the  dogs  had  relaxed,  and  ili 
seemed  as  if  they  had  lost  the  scent.  The  whipper-in 
brought  them  back  to  the  first   track,   and  then  made 


AGAIN  ON  THE  TRACK.  159 

them  try  each  clearing;  his  efforts  were  useless.  We 
were  about  to  give  our  tongue  to  the  cat,  when  suddenly 
the  noble  Black  gave  forth  a  single  bark  which  to  him 
alone  was  worth — a  long  poem.  Thereafter  he  set  to 
work  to  run  at  full  speed,  until  he  was  stopped  by  a 
barrier  of  logs  and  posts  which  marked  the  boundary  of 
an  estate.     Eureka  !     He  had  recovered  the  scent. 

Everything  encouraged  the  belief  that  while  we  had 
been  galloping  round  the  thicket,  following  with  our 
eyes  the  movements  of  the  dogs,  the  cat — for  it  was  one 
— concealing  himself  from  our  sight,  and  from  the  scent 
of  the  pack,  had  glided  from  branch  to  branch,  without 
touching  the  ground,  and  profited  by  the  interval  to  gain 
the  neighbouring  wood  behind  the  fence  of  which  I  have 
just  spoken. 

Black,  with  his  nose  in  the  air,  had  discovered  this 
fraudulent  escapade,  and  the  good  dog  had  put  us  again 
upon  the  beast's  track. 

We  continued  then  our  pursuit,  until,  at  a  winding  of 
the  wood,  we  were  startled  by  a  gun,  fired  by  a  new 
liunter,  one  of  Mr.  Potter^s  neighbours,  who  came  up  to 
join  the  chase.  He  had  caught  sight  of  the  cat  at  the 
moment  he  attempted  to  escape.  Unfortunately,  his  gun 
was  loaded  with  small  shot ;  the  animal  was  stung  to  the 
quick,  but  not  wounded. 

In  front  of  us,  at  a  short  distance,  the  cat  had  hoisted 
himself  up  a  tree,  and  leaped  from  branch  to  branch, 
without  venturing  again  to  touch  the  ground. 

Will  he  play  us  another  of  his  tricks?  thought  I. 
Come,  my  little  tiger ;  this  time  you  shall  not  escape  us. 

We  all  dismounted,  attached  our  horses  to  the  trees, 
and  stood  immovable,  with  our  fingers  on  our  triggers. 


160  A  FEMALE  VICTIM. 

watching  for  a  favourable  opportunity.  Three  guns  were 
simultaneously  discharged,  and  yet  the  animal  was  not 
touched. 

*^  Good  ! "  I  cried ;  ^^  I  see  him  ;  he  is  clambering  up  a 
high  branch.     Now  it  is  my  turn." 

My  gun  was  loaded  with  six  deer-shot ;  I  fired  !  The 
cat  climbed  much  higher.  I  had  another  barrel  to  dis- 
charge, and  selecting  the  moment  when  Master  Tom  was 
going  to  jump  on  a  neighbouring  tree,  I  let  go  the 
trigger.  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  killing  him  "  flying," 
and  of  seeing  him  fall  from  a  height  of  fifty  feet,  in  the 
presence  of  all  my  comrades  assembled  expressly  to  ap- 
plaud my  address,  into  the  jaws  of  our  dogs,  which  ap- 
peared open  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  it. 

Alas  !  my  dear  readers,  this  cat  was — a  female  cat, 
much  smaller  than  my  great  Tom  cat  number  one ;  but, 
by  way  of  compensation,  she  was  more  beautiful  and  of  a 
far  more  brilliant  fur  than  her  congener. 

Our  admiration  of  this  last  piece  of  booty  was  of  brief 
duration,  for  the  sun  sunk  towards  the  horizon,  and  we 
had  to  accomplish  a  five  miles'  ride  to  return  to  our 
dinner  and  the  charming  Creoles,  daughters  of  our  host, 
at  whose  feet  we  purposed  laying  the  spoils  of  our  three 
cats. 

Behold,  then,  our  horses  urged  to  the  gallop  ;  and  as 
soon  as  we  entered  the  long  avenue  of  acacias  leading  to 
the  lawn  in  front  of  Mr.  Potter's  villa,  a  shrill  blast  of 
our  bugle-horn  announced  at  once  our  return  and  our 
victory. 

The  cloth  was  spread  on  the  table ;  the  covers  were 
set ;  and  the  dinner  was  ready.  We  dressed  as  rapidly 
as    possible,    and    before    long   were    passing    a    hearty 


A  DEDICATION. 


161 


eulogium  on  the  carefully  prepared  dishes  of  our  host's 
sable  cook, — to  whom  I  now  dedicate  this  chapter  of  my 
volume,  a  remote  souvenir  of  a  true  and  ever-present 
friendship — the  friendship  of  the  stomach  !  * 

*  [The  wild  cat  {Felis  catus  ferus)  hsLS  a,  shorter  ta,i\  than  the  domestic  cat, 
a  flatter  and  larger  head,  and  stouter  limbs.  In  colour  he  is  generally  of  a 
pale  yellowish-gray,  with  dusky  stripes  ;  those  on  the  back  running  longi- 
tudinally, those  on  the  sides  transversely,  and  with  a  curved  direction.  The 
tail  is  embellished  with  several  rings  of  blackish-brown  and  dull  white  alter- 
nately ;  the  tip  of  the  nose,  and  the  lips,  are  black.  He  lives  in  woods,  and 
preys  on  hares,  birds,  and  other  animals.  He  is  now  very  rare  in  England, 
and  will  soon  be  known  only  by  the  stuffed  specimens  in  our  Museums] 


V^ 


(414) 


li 


CHAPTEE  XII. 


THE    WILD    GOATS. 


Y  ascending  the  course  of  the  river  Arkansas, 
which  has  given  its  name  to  one  of  the  largest 
states  in  the  North  American  Kepublic,  in- 
corporated some  forty  years  ago,  the  traveller 
soon  arrives  at  the  foot  of  the  Masserne  Mountains, — a 
range  of  precipitous  peaks  in  continuation  of  the  great 
chain  of  the  Cordilleras.  This  vast  desert,  whose  soil  is 
chiefly  trodden  by  a  few  nomadic  Indian  tribes  and  a  legion 
of  wild  animals,  the  only  beings  which  relieve  with  an 
aspect  of  life  its  wide  and  awful  solitudes,  is  covered  for 
eight  months  in  the  year  with  a  spotless  carpet  of  thick 


THE  WILD  GOAT.  163 

finow.  Numerous  glaciers  feed  the  cascades  and  water- 
courses which  tumble  down  from  ledge  after  ledge,  to  lose 
themselves  in  the  boundless  wastes  of  the  American 
Sahara. 

Bears  abound  in  the  ravines  of  these  mountains ;  and 
grouse  are  met  with  at  every  step  under  the  cover  of  the 
cotton-trees,  the  cedars,  and  dwarf  oaks,  which  grow 
between  every  fissure  of  the  rocks.  The  racoons,  the 
cougars,  and  the  cayeutes  dispute  with  each  other  for 
the  countless  prey ;  the  geese,  the  turkeys,  the  quails,  the 
cranes,  and  even  the  ostriches — for  there  are  ostriches  in 
the  United  States''^ — swarm  throughout  the  territory,  to 
the  great  delight  of  the  hunter  and  the  trapper. 

But  the  most  elegant  quadruped,  innumerable  herds  of 
whom  graze  in  freedom  on  the  turfed  peaks  of  the  Ameri- 
can Switzerland,  is,  undoubtedly,  the  wild  goat,  called 
by  the  Shoshone  and  Creek  Indians  Apertachoekoos,  and 
by  the  naturalists  Sprong-horn. 

The  pioneers  who  formed  part  of  Lewis  and  Clarke's 
expedition,  during  their  journey  across  the  prairies  be- 
tween the  chain  of  the  Masserne  and  that  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  were  the  first  to  describe  this  graceful  animal. 
Like  the  chamois  and  the  isards,  the  American  wild  goats 
are  so  timid  and  mistrustful,  that  they  never  rest  except 
on  the  summits  of  the  precipices  and  the  rocky  ridges, 
whence  they  can  overlook  all  the  approaches  to  their 
lofty  asylums.  So  keen  is  their  sight,  so  subtle  their 
faculty  of  smell,  that  it  is  always  very  difficult  to  ap- 
proach them  within  gunshot  range.     No  sooner  do  they 


*  The  American  ostrich  averages  five  feet  in  height,  and  four  feet  and  a  half 
in  length,  from  the  stomach  to  the  extremity  of  the  tail.  Their  beak  mea- 
sures five  inches,  and  is  very  pointed. 


164  A  FLOCK  OF  GOATS. 

comprehend  the  danger  which  threatens  them^  than  they 
dart  forward,  and  sweep  past  the  vision  of  the  hunter 
with  greater  velocity  than  a  bird  on  the  wing. 

Every  evening,  the  troops  of  wild  goats  cantiously  quit 
the  jjrecipitons  plateaux,  descend  into  the  plains  which 
extend  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  and  march  in  single 
file  to  quench  their  thirst  at  the  nearest  spring.  But  let 
the  slightest  peril  threaten  the  herd,  and  the  male,  who 
marches  at  the  head,  utters  a  shrill  cry,  and  suddenly, 
wheeling  completely  round,  like  a  well-disciplined  bat- 
talion, the  animals  scamper  away  with  the  rapidity  of 
lightning,  the  male  always  keeping  in  the  rear,  ready  to 
confront  the  attacks  of  the  hunter  or  of  any  other  enemy, 
as  frequently  occurs. 

I  remember  to  have  heard  Colonel  Kearney  one  day 
relate,  that  during  his  journey  across  the  prairies,  having 
pursued  a  flock  of  seven  wild  goats,  he  succeeded  in  get- 
ting up  with  them,  against  the  wind,  on  a  height  over- 
lianging  a  waterfall,  whose  clash  and  clang  had  deadened 
the  sound  of  his  footsteps.  The  male  of  the  flock  stood 
sentinel,  and  promenaded  around  the  rock  in  the  middle 
of  six  goats.  Suddenly  the  wind  changed,  and  brought 
to  the  wild  goat  the  human  odour,  betraying  the  colonel's 
presence.  A  sharp  shrill  noise  was  immediately  heard, 
and  the  seven  animals  disappeared  afar  like  a  vision.  To 
run  to  the  summit  of  the  rock  which  rose  about  two 
hundred  paces  in  front  of  him,  to  cast  an  anxious  glance 
over  the  surrounding  country,  was  for  Colonel  Kearney 
the  aflair  of  a  moment ;  but  the  animals  had  already 
cleared  a  space  of  five  hundred  yards,  and  when  the 
panting  and  exhausted  hunter  arrived  at  the  point  where 


THE  SHOSHONE  INDIANS.  165 

the  goats  had  pastured,  he  perceived  them  disappearing 
ill  a  ravine  to  which  no  visible  means  of  access  existed. 
Had  they  made  a  leap  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet 
from  the  summit  of  the  rock  to  the  bottom  of  the 
ravine  *?  Had  they  dived  into  the  depths  of  the  abyss 
by  some  route  known  only  to  themselves  ?  It  was  im- 
possible to  say,  and  neither  the  colonel  nor  his  com- 
panions could  solve  the  mystery.  The  flight  remained 
a  miracle ;  it  was  so  incomjirehensible  and  inexplicable. 

On  another  occasion,  Colonel  Kearney  fell  in  with  a  flock 
of  wild  goats,  whom  the  heat  and  the  drought  had  driven 
to  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  to  quench  their  thirst.  A 
tribe  of  five  hundred  Indians  had  surrounded  them,  and 
forced  them  right  into  the  river.  There  these  quadru- 
peds, who  dread  the  water  nearly  as  much  as  the  rifle, 
nearly  all  fell  victims  to  their  imprudence. 

The  wild  goats  are  frequently  beguiled  by  the  devices 
with  which  the  Indians  excite  their  curiosity — concealing 
themselves  behind  a  tree,  and  waving  a  bit  of  cloth  or  a 
white  handkerchief.  The  lure  draws  the  animal  forward 
until  he  comes  within  range  of  the  hunter's  gun. 

Of  all  the  I^orth  American  Indians,  the  Shoshones  are 
the  most  skilful  in  chasing  the  wild  goat.  When  they 
contrive  to  surround  a  troop,  they  drive  it  before  them 
into  the  middle  of  the  plain.  There,  mounted  upon  excel- 
lent horses,  they  separate  into  parties  of  three,  and  suc- 
cessively pursue  the  terrified  animals,  who  find  themselves 
met  at  every  turn  by  their  new  enemies,  before  whom  they 
are  forced  to  "  wheel  about  face."  Hemmed  in  on  every 
side,  they  are  at  a  loss  what  direction  to  follow,  and  each 
becomes  the  prey  of  the  hunter,  falling  before  his  arrowa 


166  A  '^RARA  AVIS." 

Among  the  passengers  of  the  steam-boat  Argo,  on  board 
of  which  I  sailed  for  the  United  States,  nearly  thirty 
years  ago,  was  a  Swiss,  from  Appenzell,  whose  open 
honest  countenance,  genial  manners,  and  natural  affability, 
attracted  me  from  the  very  first.  By  a  lucky  chance  his 
cabin  was  next  to  mine,  which  I  shared  with  a  mission- 
ary bound  for  Canada,  to  teach  the  Catholic  faith  to  the 
Redskins  of  the  northern  deserts.  An  agreeable  inti- 
macy soon  arose  between  the  Swiss  and  myself;  and  we 
were  so  often  together,  on  deck  and  at  table,  that  the 
Jesuit  most  obligingly  offered  to  take  the  berth  of  my 
new  friend,  and  give  up  his  own.  The  exchange  was 
quickly  made,  and  I  myself  assisted  in  the  removal  of  the 
goods  and  chattels. 

Behold  us  then  installed,  M.  Simond  and  myself,  in  the 
same  cabin,  rejoicing  that  we  were  at  full  liberty  to  con- 
verse, dream,  and  poetize  together.  It  is  rare  enough 
that  in  life  one  finds  one's  alter  ego, — a  friend  who  thinks 
like  one's-self,  whose  tastes  are  the  same,  whose  principles 
are  identical,  whose  reveries  are  as  bold ;  well,  this  rara 
avis  I  had  discovered,  and  without  being  either  of  us 
perfect,  we  agreed  together  on  all  important  points. 

The  chase,  and  its  irresistible  attraction,  frequently 
served  as  the  theme  of  our  long  evening  conversations  on 
the  quarter-deck.  M.  Simond,  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation at  the  University  of  Fribourg,  had  returned  to  the 
home  of  his  father,  a  rich  farmer,  cultivating  an  immense 
estate  between  Claris  and  Schwytz,  and  near  Mount  St. 
Cothard.  The  life  of  a  shepherd  and  a  hunter,  rude  as 
it  may  be,  had  from  the  first  been  the  coveted  goal  of  my 
young  friend's  desires ;   he  accepted  with  intense  delight 


APPENZELL  BOTTOM.  167 

the  duties  of  the  profession  which  he  embraced  without 
having  chosen  it,  because  it  was  exactly  adapted  to  his 
tastes  and  the  bent  of  his  mind.  Game  abounded  over 
all  the  territory  owned  by  the  Simond  family,  and  the 
farmer's  eldest  son  soon  became  famous  far  and  wide 
for  his  unsurpassed  skill  as  a  marksman.  His  favourite 
chase  was  that  of  the  chamois,  which,  forty  years  ago, 
were  numerous  enough  in  the  Alpine  district  around  St. 
Gothard. 

It  is  no  part  of  my  province  to  relate  the  causes  which, 
in  1841,  brought  M.  Simond  to  the  United  States:  to 
understand  the  following  narrative,  the  reader  needs  only 
to  be  informed  that  my  friend,  after  losing  all  the  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  emigrated  to  America,  taking  with 
him  several  Swiss  shepherds,  to  found  a  little  colony  on 
the  confines  of  the  Western  Prairies. 

At  New  York,  much  to  our  regret,  we  separated, — the 
one  going  straight  to  his  goal,  towards  the  unknown ;  the 
other  remaining  in  the  midst  of  unknown  men  and 
women,  in  a  half-civilized  world.  We  promised  to  keep 
up  a  correspondence ;  and  I  engaged,  on  my  word  of 
honour,  to  pay  a  visit  at  some  future  time  to  the  Euro- 
pean trapper,  wherever  he  might  have  established  his  log- 
cabin  ; — and  each  of  us  kept  his  promise. 

It  was  the  year  of  grace  1845  :  M.  Simond,  settled  on 
the  w^estern  slope  of  the  Masserne  Mountains,  in  the 
northern  corner  of  the  State  of  Arkansas,  had  for  three 
years  solicited  ^^  the  pleasure  "  of  my  visit  to  his  out- 
lying plantation,  which  he  had  baptized  with  a  name  dear 
to  his  recollections — Appenzell  Bottom.  The  holidays 
having  arrived,  I  decided,  one  fine  morning,  to  trust  my- 


168  A  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS. 

self  to  a  railway-train ;  and  behold  me  en  route  for  my 
Swiss- American  friend  !  Ten  days  after  my  departure 
from  New  York  I  arrived  at  Fayetteville ;  and  the  day 
following,  at  sunset,  my  guide  led  me  to  the  banks  of  a 
small  lake,  surrounded  by  magnificent  poplar-trees,  and 
covered  with  half-tame  aquatic  birds  of  nearly  every 
species,  at  whose  extremity  rose  a  picturesque  and  skil- 
fully constructed  Swiss  chalet.  Some  tiny  huts,  intended 
for  various  farming  and  domestic  purposes,  enhanced  the 
beauty  of  the  landscape.  It  was  the  abode  of  my  friend 
Simond. 

How  great  was  our  joy  to  greet  one  another  again  ! 
How  swiftly  flew  the  hours  which  followed  upon  this 
happy  reunion !  I  leave  my  brother  sportsman  to  imagine 
what  questions  I  addressed  to  the  hardy  pioneer,  whose 
spirit  had  not  quailed  at  a  banishment  into  the  heart  of  the 
wilderness,  and  who  lived  there  in  single-blessedness,  a 
bachelor,  with  a  score  of  negro  farm-labourers,  and  seven 
shepherds  of  his  own  country,  whose  only  occupation  was 
to  watch  over  the  numerous  flocks  that  prospered  so  sur- 
prisingly among  the  green  rich  pastures  of  Appenzell 
Bottom. 

Naturally  enough,  our  conversation  turned  upon  hunt- 
ing ;  and  among  other  sports  to  which  my  host  promised 
me  an  introduction  was  a  hattue  of  wild  goats  on  the 
peaks  of  the  Masserne  Mountains.  I  had  often  heard  of 
chamois-hunting  in  Europe,  without  ever  having  essayed 
its  adventurous  enjoyments ;  my  host's  promise,  there- 
fore, fllled  me  with  delight. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  all  our  preparations  having 
been    completed,    it    was    decided    we    should   join    M. 


A  ROMANTIC  LANDSCAPE.  169 

Simond's  Swiss  shepherds ;  and  accordingly  we  both  set 
out  one  Sunday  evening  to  ask  a  lodging  at  a  neighbour's 
farm-house,  about  five  miles  from  Appenzell  Bottom. 
M.  Simond's  friend  and  countryman  was  an  old  man  of 
seventy,  surrounded  by  a  numerous  family,  whose  hospi- 
tality was  Swiss  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word. 

In  these  wild  regions  of  the  central  prairies,  where  the 
baneful  influence  of  the  European  population  has  not  yet 
penetrated,  where  men's  manners  are  still  pure  and 
patriarchal,  the  religious  usages  of  the  Old  World  are 
observed  with  scrupulous  fidelity.  So,  after  the  evening 
repast,  our  aged  host  took  down  Luther's  Bible,  and  read 
a  chapter  aloud  in  a  clear,  strong  voice.  The  women 
were  seated  on  one  side  of  the  room,  the  men  on  the 
other ;  and  Simond  and  I  did  not  refuse  to  join  in  their 
simple  worship. 

On  the  following  morning,  soon  after  dawn,  armed 
with  our  guns  and  loaded  with  our  game-bags,  we  let 
loose  our  dogs,  and  started  on  our  adventure.  The  path 
we  ascended  was  full  of  windings,  and  imperfectly  made. 
Deep  night  prevailed  in  the  mountain  gorges  and  their 
dangerous  abysses ;  all  around  us  bristled  sombre  and 
precipitous  rocks,  illuminated  by  the  rays  of  a  moon  half 
veiled  with  clouds.  Such  was  the  fantastic  aspect  of 
these  masses  of  stone,  that  one  might  well  have  mistaken 
them  for  an  array  of  giants  stationed  to  watch  over  the 
solitude  of  the  mountains. 

As  our  footsteps  startled  the  silence,  crowds  of  noc- 
turnal birds  sprang  up  before  us,  and  fluttering  above 
our  heads,  quickly  disappeared  in  the  obscurity.  As  we 
moved  forward  the  day  appeared  to  rise  in  company  with 
us ;  the  stars  vanished,  absorbed  in  the  ethereal  azure ; 


170  THE  MASSERNE  SHEPHERD. 

the  moon,  wan  and  white  as  a  phantom,  seemed  to  recede 
behind  the  elevated  points  of  the  Masserne  chain. 

OwY  dogs,  left  at  liberty  to  follow  their  own  dcYices, 
frequently  started  a  covey  of  moorfowl  from  the  shelter 
of  an  overhanging  crag,  or  the  branches  of  whortleberries 
which  embellished  the  leeward  sides  of  the  rocks.  At 
length,  after  a  day's  painful  march,  we  arrived  at  the 
sheep-folds  of  my  friend  Simond,  situated  on  one  of  the 
table-lands  of  the  Masserne  Mountains. 

Every  year,  in  the  month  of  June,  the  shepherds  of 
Appenzell  Bottom  conducted  their  flocks  to  this  immense 
plateau  for  pasturage.  On  the  summit  of  an  eminence 
sheltered  from  the  wind  by  a  mass  of  granite,  they  had 
constructed  a  group  of  huts,  half  excavated  from  the  solid 
stone,  and  covered  with  roofs  of  clay, — whose  existence 
could  only  have  been  suspected  by  their  builders.  These 
huts  were  so  arranged  as  to  surround  the  flock  and  defend 
it,  in  case  of  attack,  from  the  cayeutes,  who  abound  in 
the  neighbourhood.  A  bundle  of  whortleberry  twigs, 
closed  the  low  and  narrow  entrance  of  each  primitive 
lodging. 

The  circumstance  which  revealed  to  me  these  huts  was 
the  dense  smoke  escaping  from  one  of  them.  On  ap- 
proaching its  threshold  we  were  received  by  a  shepherd, 
who  had  been  waiting  for  us  from  the  day  before,  notice 
of  our  coming  having  been  given  by  a  negro,  whom  M. 
Simond  had  sent  in  advance  with  provisions  and  muni- 
tions. The  Masserne  pastor  was  a  man  in  the  prime  of 
life  j  he  appeared  to  be  some  forty  years  old ;  his  healthy 
face^  and  his  long  curled  locks  falling  down  his  neck, 
gave  him  a  somewhat  wild  look,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
ursine  character  which  he  derived  from  his  robe  of  furs — 


A  NUMEROUS  FLOCK. 


171 


a  robe  enveloping  him  from  head  to 
foot.  He  had  been  left  at  home  to 
prepare  supper  for  his  companions, 
and  we  had  scarcely  seated  ourselves 
in  front  of  the  door  of  their  principal 
residence  before  they  debouched,  one 
by  one,  through  one  of  the  cols,  or 
passes,  of  the  table-land,  partly  es- 
corting, and  partly  driving  before 
them,  a  flock  of  ten  thousand  sheep, 
goats,  alpacas,  cows,  and  oxen.  It 
was  truly  a  sight  to  see  all  these 
domestic  animals,  passing  slowly, 
chiming  their  bells,  and  kept  in  per- 
fect order  by  a  dozen  enormous  dogs, 
with  jet  -  black  skins  and  tufted 
tails.  In  a  very  short  time  the  flock 
was  penned  up  for  the  night,  and 
then  each  shepherd  began  to  think 
of  his  supper.  And  while  they  ate 
their  onion  soup  and  a  ration  of 
boiled  meat,  washed  down  by  a  dram 
of  brandy,  each  gave  in  his  report  foi- 
the  day. 

A  herd  of  nineteen  wild  goats 
had  been  sighted  at  about  five  miles 
from  the  sheep-farm,  tranquilly  feed- 
ing on  a  precipitous  table-land,  bor- 
dered on  one  side  by  a  ravine,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  rolled  a  torrent, 
fed  by  the  springs  and  snows  of  the 
Masserne   chain.       For    ^lyq    whole 


'"'^S*- 


:\i 


L\  m 


Pi 


ONE  OF  THE  COLS. 


172  THE  devil's  peak. 

days  they  had  not  quitted  this  pasturage ;  and  that  same 
morning  one  of  the  shepherds  had  caught  sight  of  them, 
tranquilly  slumbering  amongst  the  herbage,  under  the 
guardianship  of  a  sentinel  who  watched  on  the  summit 
of  the  rock. 

We  decided  on  the  instant  that  we  would  start  before 
day  and  repair  directly  to  the  Devil's  Peak  ;  for  such  was 
the  name  which  the  shepherds  had  given  to  the  table-land 
occupied  by  the  wild  goats. 

The  sun  rose  radiantly ;  the  day  was  magnificent ;  and 
when  the  first  beams  gilded  the  snowy  crests  of  the  Mas- 
serne  Mountains,  we  were  all  posted — M.  Simond,  one  of 
the  shepherds,  my  host's  negro,  and  myself — at  the  differ- 
ent passes  of  the  table-land.  The  pastor,  who  was  to 
conduct  the  hunt,  had  placed  me  near  a  crevasse,  about 
twenty-six  feet  wide,  whose  depth  I  durst  not  measure 
for  fear  of  dizziness.  After  recommending  me  to  keep 
completely  silent,  and  to  preserve  a  perfect  immobility, 
while  holding  myself  ready  to  fire,  he  quitted  me  to  drive 
back  the  game. 

Half  an  hour  passed  in  silent  expectation.  I  had  pro- 
vided myself  with  a  telescope,  and  surveyed,  to  kill  the 
time,  the  acclivities  and  summit  of  the  precipices.  At 
length  I  descried  a  goat  bounding  and  leaping  at  about  a 
quarter  of  a  league  from  me  ;  and  this  first  animal  was 
soon  followed  by  five  or  six  others,  who  stopped  short, 
with  pricked  ears,  eyes  wide  open,  nose  sniffing  the  wind, 
and  occasionally  pawing  with  their  hoofs,  in  readiness 
to  take  to  fiight.  It  was  an  auspicious  moment ;  my  joy 
could  no  longer  be  controlled. 

By  a  phenomenon  of  very  common  occurrence  in  the 
Masserne  chain,  a  thick  mist  suddenly  enveloped  us ;  the 


ON  THE  WATCH.  173 

heat  was  overwhelming ;  everything  presaged  a  storm, 
and  before  long  it  came.  The  thunder  pealed  hoarsely 
above  our  heads,  beside  us,  and  beneath  our  feet ;  I  took 
shelter  under  a  wide-spreading  cedar,  in  the  belief  that 
lightning  would  not  touch  a  resinous  tree.  I  had  a  nar- 
row escape.  The  electric  shaft  fell  within  thirty  paces  of 
my  covert,  and  clove  open  an  enormous  rock.  The  pro- 
found obscurity  which  reigned  around  me ;  the  flights  of 
crows  which  hovered  to  and  fro  unable  to  find  a  shelter, — 
everything  combined  to  render  the  scene  I  am  attempt- 
ing to  describe  equally  sublime  and  horrible. 

Soon  large  drops  began  to  fall ;  they  increased  in  size 
and  number ;  the  rain  fell  like  a  deluge ;  the  ravines 
roared  with  innumerable  torrents,  with  foaming  cascades, 
which  swept  onward  in  their  boiling  floods  the  trunks 
and  branches  of  uprooted  trees.  The  cedar  which  pro- 
tected me,  as  it  was  beaten  by  the  rain  and  shaken  by 
the  wind,  seemed  to  utter  cries  of  anguish.  The  water 
poured  in  all  directions  through  its  leafy  screen. 

By  degrees,  however,  a  north  wind  rose,  which  scat- 
tered the  frowning  clouds ;  the  sun  reappeared,  and 
nature  gradually  recovered  her  primitive  calm.  I  soon 
discovered  the  shepherd  on  the  summit  of  one  of  the  hil- 
locks which  surmounted  the  table-land,  and  a  few  seconds 
afterwards  five  reports  of  rifles  were  repeated  by  all  the 
mountain  echoes.  The  pastor,  like  a  statue,  held  himself 
upright  on  a  rock ;  I  saw  him  make  me  a  sign  with  his 
hand ;  my  heart  throbbed  as  if  it  would  break ;  my  eyes 
opened  wide  and  immovable.  I  held  my  double-barrel 
at  full-cock.  At  length  five  goats  darted  past  within 
twenty  paces ;  I  picked  out  one,  and  took  aim ;  my 
cap    missed    fire.       I    drew    the    trigger    of    the    second 


174  ONE  TO  HIS  GUN. 

baiTel,  and  the  animal  fell  dead  within  a  few  feet  of  tho 
abyss. 

I  should  have  felt  well  satisfied  with  the  fortunate  shot 
which  enabled  me  to  boast  of  having  killed  a  wild  goat, 
but  for  the  unlucky  chance  of  my  missing  my  first  fire, 
through  the  effect  of  the  damp  on  the  charge  of  powder. 
But  for  this  mishap,  I  might  have  carried  ofi*  two  proofs 
of  my  skill  and  prowess. 

I  hailed  the  other  hunters,  and  they  joined  me  in  a  few 
moments.  M.  Simonds  had  killed  two,  and  his  negro 
one;  but  the  latter  animal,  hit  in  the  shoulder,  had 
tumbled  from  crag  to  crag,  and  fallen  headlong  into  the 
torrent.  As  for  the  shepherd,  he  had  seen  three  members 
of  the  troop,  but  had  been  unable  to  bring  them  within 
range. 

With  our  enormous  prizes  we  returned  to  the  huts 
of  the  shepherds,  and  after  rest  and  refreshment  betook 
ourselves  to  M.  Simond^s  chalet. 


^^i^« 


'X 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


THE    PECCARY. 


S  a  general  rule,  all  animals  are  seized  with  a 
panic-terror  at  the  discharge  of  a  gun ;  and  if 
they  escape  the  murderous  lead,  they  fly  as 
best  they  can,  with  all  the  speed  which  fear 
can  lend  to  their  wings  or  feet.  The  peccary  is,  I  sup- 
pose, the  only  being  in  nature  which  cannot  be  accused 
of  this  pusillanimity.  I  will  say  more.  It  has  been 
proved  to  me  that  the  report  of  a  gun  as  loud  as  the 
volcanic  detonations  of  Hecla  or  Chimborazo  will  but 
redouble  the  rage  of  the  peccary,  who  becomes  more  and 
more  irritated  as  the  danger  increases.  The  animal 
seems  completely  insensible  to  those  nervous  influences, 
those  inevitable  sensations  which  noise,  under  whatever 
form  it  may  be  produced,  excites  in  man  and  the  brute. 
Though  the  size  of  the  peccary  does  not  ordinarily  exceed 
twenty  to  twenty-four  inches  in  height,  and  three  and 


176  ABOUT  THE  PECCARY. 

a  half  feet  in  length,  from  the  groin  to  the  root  of  the 
tail,  not  the  less  is  he  one  of  the  most  dangerous  animals 
of  North  America. 

The  peccaries  live  in  herds,  whose  number  varies  from 
ten  to  fifty.  Their  jaws  are  ornamented  with  tusks  like 
that  of  a  wild  boar;  but  they  are  straight  instead  of 
curved,  as  with  their  congeners,  and,  perhaps  on  account 
of  this  very  difference,  they  are  more  terrible  and  mur- 
derous. These  formidable  tusks,  as  trenchant  as  a  razor- 
blade,  vary  in  length  from  four  to  five  inches.  The 
movements  of  the  peccaries  are  as  rapid  as  those  of  the 
squirrel ;  and  such  is  the  strength  of  their  shoulders, 
neck,  and  head,  that  nothing  can  resist  their  impetuous 
attack.  Experience  has  taught  the  hunters  that,  the 
peccaries  never  hesitating  to  spring  upon  aught  which 
comes  in  their  way,  be  its  object  animate  or  inanimate, 
the  safest  plan  is  to  take  to  flight  upon  encountering 
them.  As  they  habitually  rush  en  m,asse  on  whatever 
interrupts  their  march,  and  as  they  will  fight  until  the 
last  one  of  them  perishes,  it  is  absolutely  useless  to  make 
head  against  them  ;  for  they  will  cover  with  wounds  ani- 
mal or  man,  whatever  his  strength  and  stature,  and 
victory  will  cost  much  more  than  it  is  worth. 

When  a  herd  of  peccaries  comes  in  sight,  then,  men, 
dogs,  horses,  all  seek  safety  in  flight.  It  is  a  general 
sauve-qui-2oeut ;  and  the  American  peccary  is  the  terror 
of  the  Nimrods  of  the  New  World. 

This  fantastic  animal  is,  undoubtedly,  an  intermediate 
link  between  the  domestic  pig  and  the  wild  boar  of  the 
woods.  In  form  his  body  more  nearly  approximates  to 
that  of  the  swine  ;  but  his  bristles,  thinly  scattered  over 
a  wrinkled  hide,  have  the  faculty  of  stifiening,  like  the 


THE  peccary's  LAIR.  177 

quills  of  the  porcupine,  immediately  he  is  angered, — and 
in  this  he  more  resembles  the  boar  than  any  other  of  the 
race.  The  hair  of  the  peccary  is  coloured  in  zones  or 
rings, — the  part  nearest  to  the  skin  being  white,  and 
the  tip  of  a  chocolate  shade.  The  peccaries  have  no  tail. 
This  appendix  is  replaced  by  a  fleshy  protuberance,  which 
the  negroes  of  Texas  call  the  *^hind  navel."  Another 
peculiarity  is,  that  the  navel  properly  so  called  is  not 
found  in  these  animals  in  its  ordinary  place.  On  the 
back  is  a  small,  shapeless  rugosity,  containing  a  deposit 
of  musky  liquid,  which  evaporates  on  the  animal's  grow- 
ing irritated,  as  is  the  case  with  the  civet  and  the  musk- 
cat  of  South  America. 

The  shoulders,  the  neck,  and  the  head  of  the  peccary 
belong  to  the  wild  boar ;  but  the  extreme  part  of  the 
groin  is  generally  slenderer  and  more  delicate.  The  feet 
and  legs  resemble  those  of  the  wild  boar.  His  favourite 
food  is  berries,  acorns,  roots,  sugar-canes,  seed,  and  rep- 
tiles of  all  kinds. 

We  have  spoken  at  some  length  of  the  conformation 
and  habits  of  this  animal ;  and  it  still  remains  for  us  to 
allude  to  the  curious  fashion  in  which  he  takes  his  rest. 
His  lair  is  always  situated  among  the  tufted,  luxuriant, 
and  inextricable  cane-bushes,  which  flourish  in  marshy 
localities,  round  lofty  and  venerable  trees.  The  wind 
and  the  lightning  seem  to  attack  in  preference  those  iso- 
lated oaks  and  maples,  the  giants  of  the  Texan  forests, 
which  one  sometimes  meets  with  prostrate  on  the  river- 
bank,  and  covered  with  a  network  of  lianas  and  wild 
vines.  The  trunks  of  these  trees,  which  ordinarily  mea- 
sure twenty -five  to  thirty  feet  in  circumference,  are  nearly 
alw:ays  hollow,  and  serve  as  a  night  abode  for  the  pec- 
Ui4)       '  12 


178  ORGANIZING  A  HUNT. 

caries.  They  retire  every  evening  into  a  trunk  large 
enough  to  contain  about  thirty  of  them.  There  they 
huddle  together,  the  snout  of  one  resting  on  the  hind- 
quarter  of  another,  and  the  last-comer  keeping  guard. 

The  Texan  planters  dread  the  peccaries,  and  have 
vowed  against  them  a  deadly  hatred,  not  only  on  account 
of  the  ravages  they  commit  in  their  cultivated  fields,  and 
the  way  in  which  they  slaughter  their  dogs  and  muti- 
late their  horses,  but  also  on  account  of  the  ridiculous 
position  in  which  an  encountei*  with  peccaries  frequently 
places  them,  compelling  them  either  to  take  to  their  heels 
helter-skelter,  or  to  seek  safety  ignominiously  up  the 
nearest  tree ; — the  planters,  I  say,  seize  all  the  oppor- 
tunities offered  to  them  of  destroying  these  dangerous 
parasites.  As  soon  as  one  of  them  discovers  the  trunk 
of  a  tree  which  appears  to  be  frequented  by  his  enemies, 
he  organizes  a  hunt  of  the  most  amusing  though  dan- 
gerous description.  To  ensure  its  success,  heavy  rain,  or, 
at  all  events,  a  thick  fog,  is  necessary  ;  for,  as  a  rule, 
peccaries  do  not  quit  their  asylum  in  bad  weather.  Half 
an  hour  before  daybreak,  the  hunter,  armed  with  a  car- 
bine and  numerous  cartridges,  lies  in  ambush  opposite 
the  entrance  of  their  customary  retreat.  There,  concealed 
from  every  eye,  he  waits  until  there  is  liglit  enough  to 
enable  him  to  fire.  The  moment  he  can  discern  the 
piercing  eyes  of  the  peccary  posted  as  sentinel,  in  whose 
rear  the  entire  herd  lies  asleep,  he  shoulders  his  gun, 
takes  careful  aim,  and  lets  go  the  trigger.  The  shot 
takes  effect.  The  peccary  springs  from  the  tree,  and 
sinks  on  the  ground  in  the  convulsions  of  death. 

The  hunter  has  scarcely  time  to  reload  his  piece  before 


VICTIM  UPON  VICTIM. 


179 


CONCEALED    FKOM   EVERY    EYE,    HE    WAITS.' 


a  subterranean  growling  becomes  audible,  and  another 
pair  of  eyes  glare  at  the  opening  which,  a  few  minutes 
before,  was  occupied  by  the  sentinel.  A  second  dis- 
charge, and  another  victim ;  and  thus  the  slaughter  con- 
tinues to  the  twentieth,  and  even  to  the  thirtieth, — 
unless,  indeed,  one  of  the  animals,  excited  by  the  fre- 
quent explosions,  does  not  wait  for  the  impending  blow, 
but  makes  a  dash  towards  the  hunter,  followed  by  all 
the  other  survivors ;  in  which  case  there  remains  for  the 
hunter  but  one  resource, — to  fly  with  all  speed,  and 
clamber  up  the  first  tree  within  his  reach. 

If,  during  the  fusillade,  the  sentinel-peccary  lies  dead 
in  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  obstructing  the  opening,  the 
animal  behind  it  pushes  forward  the  inert  mass  with  his 
shoulder,  until  he  clears  the  passage.  These  animals, 
being  ignorant  of  the  danger,  and  not  knowing  whence 
it  arises,  are  utterly  fearless,  and  spring  forth  boldly, 


180  A  VISIT  TO  CANNEY  CREEK. 

from  the  first  to  the  last,  to  encounter  the  peril.  They 
never  throw  themselves  upon  any  enemy  they  cannot  see. 
Their  instinct  will  not  guide  them,  unless  the  hunter 
stirs  the  branches  behind  which  he  is  concealed,  or  they 
hear  any  sound  indicating  his  place  of  ambuscade. 

However  incredible  may  seem  the  foregoing  details,  I 
solemnly  declare  that  such  is  the  mode  of  hunting  adopted 
by  the  inhabitants  of  Texas  at  Canney  Creek  and  Brazos 
Bottom,  where,  some  years  ago,  the  country  was  impass- 
able from  the  hosts  of  peccaries  which  infested  it.  At  the 
present  day,  owing  to  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  the 
planters  and  their  friends,  the  Texan  wild  boars  have 
become  almost  as  rare  as  those  of  Europe  in  the  northern 
forests.     If  need  were,  they  could  be  counted. 

I  shall  never  forget  my  first  experiment  in  peccary- 
hunting.  I  was  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  a  planter  of 
Canney  Creek,  to  whom  I  had  carried  letters  of  recom- 
mendation from  his  brother,  a  resident  at  New  York, 
and  one  of  my  warmest  friends.  Mr.  John  Morgan  had 
emigrated  to  Texas  in  1837,  with  another  brother,  the 
youngest  of  the  three ;  and  his  plantation,  when  I  visited 
it,  was  unquestionably  the  finest  in  the  whole  country. 
Compared  with  these  hardy  pioneers,  I  was  but  a  poor 
hunter ;  so  they  took  a  pleasure  in  initiating  me  in  the 
dangers  of  a  trapper's  life  in  this  primitive  region.  I 
listened  with  a  pleasure  indescribable  to  their  numerous 
sporting  narratives,  which,  round  the  evening  fire,  are 
the  favourite  themes  of  conversation  with  the  inhabitants 
of  the  frontiers. 

For  some  time   the   peccaries   had   been   committing 


AN  AWKWARD  POSITION.  181 

great  ravages  in  the  maize  and  barley  fields  of  Messrs. 
Morgan,  who  waged  against  them  a  deadly  war;  and 
naturally  they  delighted  to  discourse  of  their  numerouF* 
exploits.  I  experienced  a  genuine  pleasure  in  hearing 
them  fume  and  fret  as  they  show^ed  me  their  finest  dogs 
accidentally  ripped  and  torn  by  the  Texan  wild  boars; 
accidentally,  I  say,  for  no  dog  willingly  enters  on  a  pec- 
cary-hunt after  his  first  experience  of  it. 

One  morning,  Mr.  John  Morgan,  on  entering  the  room 
at  breakfast-time,  informed  us  that  he  had  been  to  judge 
for  himself  of  the  ravages  committed  in  his  maize-fields  by 
a  bear  and  a  herd  of  peccaries.  He  had  had  no  difficulty 
in  following  up  the  traces  of  the  bear,  and  while  thus 
engaged  had  come  face  to  face  with  the  peccaries,  who 
were  whetting  their  tusks  against  the  stems  of  his  maize, 
and  cutting  them  down  like  the  sickle  of  a  cunning 
reaper.  It  was  too  late  for  him  to  efiect  an  honourable 
retreat;  for  his  enemies  had  caught  sight  of  him,  and, 
according  to  their  wont,  immediately  started  in  pursuit, 
growling,  and  at  every  step  gnashing  their  hungry  teeth. 
To  stop  and  discharge  his  rifle  was  an  impossibility  :  to 
save  his  neck,  Mr.  Morgan  took  to  his  heels.  He  ran  in 
the  direction  of  a  barrier,  and  fortunately  got  there  before 
the  peccaries.  He  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  highest 
rail,  and  close  upon  him  came  his  pursuers,  standing  on 
their  hind-legs  and  tearing  the  wood  with  their  tusks. 
The  lower  portion  of  the  fence  gave  way,  and  Mr.  Mor- 
gan assured  us  that  he  felt  much  in  the  position  of  a  hen 
dancing  on  a  red-hot  bar  of  iron,  while  he  fired  with  all 
possible  rapidity.  He  had  already  killed  several  pec- 
caries, but  the  rage  of  those  who  remained  seemed  to  in- 


182  MAKING  ALL  READY. 

crease.  All  at  once  he  felt  the  rail  on  which  he  sat  bend 
and  break ;  and  before  he  could  find  a  fresh  support,  he 
found  himself  lying  on  his  back  in  the  middle  of  a  cane- 
bush  on  the  other  side.  To  spring  to  his  feet,  and  re- 
sume his  flight,  was  the  work  of  a  second  ;  and  he  happily 
contrived  to  reach  his  residence  without  further  molesta- 
tion from  the  peccaries. 

We  hastened  to  finish  our  breakfast,  and  afterwards  to 
make  preparations  for  an  expedition  in  quest  of  the  bear, 
who  was  even  a  more  dangerous  neighbour  for  my  friends 
than  the  peccaries. 

All  three  mounted  on  horseback,  preceded  by  a  negro, 
who  blew  lustily  through  a  cow's  horn,  for  the  purpose, 
he  said,  of  terrifying  those  "vermin  swine." 

The  pack  of  hounds  was  superb.  They  had  been 
trained  to  hunt  the  bear,  and  belonged  to  a  breed  crossed 
with  bull-dogs  and  greyhounds.  Their  hide  bore  traces 
of  wounds  inflicted  by  the  tusks  of  the  peccaries  and 
the  formidable  claws  of  the  bears.  While  advancing 
in  the  direction  of  the  projected  hunt,  Mr.  Morgan  gave 
me  the  instructions  necessary  for  avoiding  an  awkward 
rencontre  with  the  peccaries.  He  recommended  me 
with  particular  emphasis  not  to  attempt  a  stand,  but  to 
fly  with  all  speed,  unless  I  wished  to  see  my  horse  ripped 
up,  and  to  get  my  own  limbs  torn  and  broken.  Natu- 
rally, I  promised  to  be  very  prudent ;  but  the  yelps  and 
joyous  barks  of  the  dogs  soon  drove  from  my  mind  all 
recollection  of  the  dangerous  game  we  were  about  to 
attack. 

We  had  reached  the  cane-bushes ;  and  our  horses  ex- 
perienced   the    greatest    difficulty  in    forcing    a   passage 


IN  THE  THICKET.  183 

through  the  lianas  and  vines  which  interlaced  and  inter- 
tangled  one  another,  and  rendered  the  route  almost 
impracticable.  Even  an  iguana  would  not  have  found  it 
easy  to  glide  through  the  tracks  trodden  down  by  our 
horses.  So  long  as  it  was  possible  to  remain  in  the 
passes  all  went  well.  We  followed  with  eagerness  our 
dogs,  who  ever  and  anon  startled  the  air  with  formidable 
barkings ;  but  suddenly  we  heard,  right  in  front  of  us,  a 
still  more  terrible  noise,  accompanied  by  horrid  howls, 
enough  to  make  one^s  hair  stand  erect.  Each  of  us  then 
trusted  to  his  own  inspiration,  and  took  what  seemed  to 
be  the  best  road  for  coming  up  with  the  bear,  the  object 
of  our  expedition. 

The  horse  on  which  I  was  mounted  dashed  into  the 
thickest  of  the  jungle,  indulging  in  leaps  and  bounds 
which  tried  all  my  skill  as  a  cavalier  to  prevent  myself 
from  being  thrown.  Meantime,  the  bear  stood  at  bay 
before  the  dogs,  in  a  covert  near  the  route  taken  by  my 
steed.  Suddenly  he  darted  forward,  and  passed  within  a 
few  paces  of  me,  unperceived  through  the  dense  screen  of 
verdure  which  rose  between  us.  At  this  moment  my 
horse  became  furious  :  I  found  it  impossible  to  guide 
him,  and  I  felt  myself  lifted  from  my  saddle  by  the 
lianas  which  everywhere  surrounded  me.  Fortunately,  I 
had  the  presence  of  mind  to  cling  tenaciously  to  the  bridle, 
and  I  recovered  my  equilibrium,  without  giving  a  thought 
to  the  contusions  I  had  experienced.  The  shock,  how- 
ever, forced  me  to  comprehend  the  perplexed  position  in 
which  I  found  myself,  and  I  then  began  to  think  of  clear- 
ing a  way  through  the  thicket  with  my  hunting-knife. 

Just  at  this  crisis,  the  bear,  having  been  stopped  short 
in  his  route  by  my  three  companions,  returned  in  my 


184  HORSE  AND  BEAR. 

direction,  pursued  by  the  dogs,  and  breaking  and  tearing 
away  the  lianas  and  canes  in  his  passage.  My  horse  was 
seized  with  a  frenzy  of  terror  much  worse  than  his  former 
outburst.  He  would  fain  have  gone  forward ;  but,  turn- 
ing and  re-turning  to  disengage  himself,  he  found  himself 
soon  caught  in  a  network  of  climbing  and  creeping  shrubs 
of  all  kinds,  whose  solidity  would  have  defied  the  mus- 
cular arm  of  a  Samson  or  a  Hercules.  In  this  supreme 
moment  the  bear  again  swept  by  me,  harassed  by  the 
dogs,  who  bit  him  in  their  rage. 

On  catching  sight  of  the  ferocious  animal — the  first, 
perhaps,  he  had  ever  seen — my  horse  began  to  recoil  with 
such  nervous  force,  that  I  felt  myself  strangled  and  suffo- 
cated by  the  pressure  of  the  lianas  which  opposed  my 
retreat  from  the  thicket.  By  great  efforts,  and  with  the 
sacrifice  of  my  coat-sleeve,  whose  tatters  fluttered  on  the 
reeds  of  the  cane-bush,  I  contrived  to  release  my  arm, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  my  bowie-knife  cut  away  so 
many  branches,  that  I  succeeded  in  forcing  my  way 
out  of  the  labyrinth  in  which  I  had  been  entangled. 
I  was  then  free  to  listen  to  the  formidable  concert  of 
neighings,  barkings,  bowlings,  and  yelpings,  in  which 
bear,  and  dogs,  and  horses  sonorously  joined.  I  did  my 
best  to  reach  the  scene  of  combat,  which,  as  far  as  I 
could  judge,  was  at  the  foot  of  a  gigantic  tree.  I  dis- 
tinctly heard  the  shouts  of  my  hosts,  and  in  due  time 
they  and  I  arrived  at  the  centre  of  operations. 

Suddenly  Mr.  John  Morgan  and  I  broke  through  the 
hedge  of  canes  which  had  obstructed  our  vision,  and 
before  us,  in  the  centre  of  a  space  of  about  twelve  yards 
in  circumference,  which  had  been  cleared  by  the  com- 
batants, we  discovered  the  bear  attempting  to  •  haul  his 


SAUVE  QUI  PEUT  1  185 

ungainly  body  up  the  trunk  of  the  tree.  The  clogs,  de- 
riving encouragement  from  the  approach  of  the  hunts- 
men, made  a  final  attack  upon  their  enemy,  whose  body 
they  literally  covered ;  so  that,  in  fact,  we  could  not  find 
an  inch  of  skin  where  we  might  direct  a  bullet. 

While  we  were  thus  hesitating  to  make  use  of  our  fire- 
arms, and  while  the  bear  shook  his  opponents  right  and 
left,  and  in  every  direction,  a  troop  of  peccaries  made  their 
appearance,  and  simultaneously  charged  the  bear,  the 
dogs,  and  the  huntsmen.  The  cries,  the  howls,  the  gene- 
ral sauve  qui  peut,  can  only  be  imagined  by  those  of  my 
readers  who  have  been  placed  in  an  analogous  situation. 
The  dogs,  with  their  tails  between  their  legs,  rushed 
towards  us ;  the  bear,  maddened  by  his  wounds,  de- 
meaned himself  like  an  unchained  lunatic,  and  with  his 
feet  and  his  teeth  blindly  dealt  death  around  him. 

The  first  sentiment  experienced  by  my  friends  and 
myself  had  been  one  of  stupor ;  but  from  this  we  were 
soon  awakened  by  the  consciousness  of  our  danger. 

^'^  Sauve  qui  peut,^^  cried  Mr.  Morgan,  in  a  voice  ex- 
pressive of  anger  and  astonishment.  His  brother,  and  the 
negro  who  had  followed  us,  joined  him  in  shouting, 
"  The  peccaries,  the  peccaries  !  Save  yourself,  save  your- 
self!" 

To  this  unwonted  cry  was  added  the  report  of  our  car- 
bines in  the  middle  of  the  cane-bush,  where  the  peccaries 
were  heedlessly  stamping  to  and  fro.  The  swiftness  of 
our  horses,  stimulated  by  feai^  much  more  than  by  our 
spurs,  soon  brought  us  back  to  Mr.  Morgan's  plantation. 
There  I  carefully  folded  in  my  portmanteau  the  hunting- 
coat,  that  it  might  in  after-days  remind  me  of  my  first 
encounter  with  the  American  Peccaries. 


186  A  TEXAN  hunter's  STORY. 

A  short  time  after  this  adventure  I  embarked  at  Gal- 
veston, on  my  return  to  New  Orleans,  and  from  thence 
to  the  ]S"orthern  States.  In  the  evening,  in  ihe  cabin  of 
the  Star  of  the  West  steamer,  a  pioneer  from  Western 
Texas,  who,  with  his  friends,  was  seated  round  a  table 
loaded  with  glasses  of  "  brandy  punch,"  related  a  story  of 
peccary-hunting,  which,  I  think,  will  interest  the  reader, 
and  which,  therefore,  I  shall  here  reproduce  exactly  as 
he  told  it. 

"  I  was  staying,"  said  the  Texan  hunter,  "  with  one  of 
my  friends,  a  farmer  at  Trinity  Swamp.  You  know  that 
we  planters  are  passionately  fond  of  hunting  ;  so  my  friend 
and  I  spent  all  our  days  rifle  in  hand.  One  morning, 
when  I  was  walking  alone  on  the  threshold  of  a  wood,  I 
fell  in  with  a  herd  of  peccaries.  I  was  ignorant  then  of 
the  vindictive  temper  of  these  accursed  wild  swine ;  so  I 
imprudently  flred  at  one  of  them,  and  killed  him.  Imme- 
diately the  rest  of  the  troop  rushed  upon  me,  and  attacked 
me  with  their  tusks.  I  had  much  ado  to  defend  myself 
with  the  aid  of  the  butt  of  my  carbine,  and  as  soon  as 
one  old  fellow  rolled  on  the  ground,  another  took  his 
place.  Weary  of  the  struggle,  I  sprang  towards  the 
trunk  of  a  tree,  and  catching  hold  of  one  of  its  branches, 
hauled  myself  up  to  a  forked  bough  about  seventeen  or 
eighteen  feet  from  the  ground. 

*^Here  I  found  myself,  I  confess,  in  a  very  painful 
position.  One  hour,  two  hours,  three  hours  passed ;  no 
help  arrived.  My  terrible  besiegers  surrounded  the  tree, 
where  I  was  perched  like  St.  Simeon  Stylites  on  his 
column,  and  did  not  appear  to  have  any  intention  of  re- 
tiring. Suddenly  an  idea  passed  through  my  head  :  Per- 
haps my  friend  is  looking  about  for  me,  I  said  to  myself; 


**  GATHERING  AS  IT  ROLLS."  187 

if  I  discharge  my  gun,  he  will  hear  it  and  come  to  my 
deliverance.  And  while  summoning  him,  could  I  not 
turn  my  powder  to  some  profit,  and  kill  one  of  these 
Satanic  peccaries]  Immediately  I  carried  my  thought 
into  practice,  and  the  biggest  of  the  troop  rolled  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree  in  convulsions  of  agony.  One  idea  led  to 
another.  I  had  twenty  bullets  in  my  game-bag,  and  I 
could  count  just  nineteen  peccaries  at  the  foot  of  the  tree. 
Nothing  could  be  easier  than  to  kill  them  all,  one  after 
another !  I  began  my  musketry  exercise,  incessantly 
reloading  and  firing,  and  at  each  victory  uttering  an 
*  Hurrah  ! '  which  awoke  every  echo  in  the  forest.  At 
length,  this  continuous  fusillade  attracted  my  friend's 
attention ;  but  just  as  he  appeared  on  the  scene,  I  slew  the 
last  peccary.  You  may  conceive  his  astonishment  at  the 
spectacle  of  the  wholesale  slaughter  I  had  committed." 

The  Texan  hunter's  bearers  had  listened  to  his  recital 
with  great  interest,  and  now  heartily  congratulated  him 
on  his  skill  as  a  marksman. 

Two  months  afterwards,  I  descended  the  Mississippi 
from  St.  Louis  to  New  Orleans,  on  board  the  steam-boat 
Black  Eagle^  and  my  Texan  hunter  happened  to  be  one 
of  my  travelling  companions.  In  the  evening,  the  pas- 
sengers, gathering  around  the  stove,  discussed  political  and 
commercial  subjects,  and  adventures  by  flood  and  field. 
My  Texan  took  care  that  his  peccaries  should  not  be  for- 
gotten. I  did  not  think  it  my  business  to  remind  him 
that  I  had  already  heard  his  narrative ;  but  judge  of  my 
surprise  when  he  varied  the  latter  part  of  it  as  follows  : — 

''  One  hour,  two  hours,  three  hours  passed ;  no  help 
arrived.     Both  physically  and  morally  I  felt  ill  at  ease. 


188  A  WONDERFUL  NARRATIVE. 

I  made  a  movement  to  change  my  position,  but  lost  my 
equilibrium  and  fell.  Happily,  I  let  go  my  rifle,  stretched 
out  my  arm,  and  seized  a  branch.  Then  I  found  myself 
suspended  in  a  very  awkward  fashion ;  my  feet  were  not 
more  than  five  feet  from  the  ground,  and  below  me  the 
peccaries  were  tossing  to  and  fro,  in  hungry  expectation 
of  seizing  and  rending  their  prey.  Fortunately  their 
efforts  were  vain.  I  thought  myself  saved  ;  but  mark 
now  the  extraordinary  instinct  of  these  animals  !  Several 
of  them  lay  down  on  their  bellies  ;  others  mounted  on  the 
backs  of  these ;  and  so  they  formed  a  kind  of  ladder,  on 
the  top  of  which  an  enormous  peccary  mounted  to  the 
attack,  and  seized  me  by  my  right  heel.  With  the  other 
leg  I  resisted  stoutly,  and  struck  out  like  a  horse.  During 
the  struggle  the  living  staircase  gave  way,  and  there  was 
the  peccary  himself  suspended  to  my  foot  by  his  tusks, 
while  his  companions  growled  and  grunted  around  us  with 
an  infernal  clamour.  My  arms  began  to  feel  the  strain, 
and  I  saw  with  alarm  that  I  should  be  forced  before  long 
to  let  go  my  grasp  of  the  branch.  Suddenly  the  report 
of  a  gun  sounded  in  my  ears.  The  shock  flung  me  to  the 
ground  ;  I  rolled  over  the  enraged  peccary  :  he  was  dead  ! 
My  friend,  coming  up  in  the  nick  of  time,  had  shot 
him  through  and  through.  Immediately  picking  up  my 
rifle,  I  placed  myself  at  his  side,  and  we  both  took  ven- 
geance on  the  enemy ;  twenty-five  peccaries  lay  dead  on 
the  field  of  battle." 

This  narrative,  told  with  imperturbable  assurance,  and 
the  most  dramatic  gestures,  in  a  voice  full  of  emotion, 
turned  pale  the  cheeks  of  many  of  the  Texan's  auditors, 
of  those  especially  who  had  never  been  initiated  into  the 
wild  life  of  the  Backwoods. 


MORE  WONDERFUL  THAN  EVER.  ^       189 

A  fortniglit  later — an  unfortunate  rencontre  ! — among 
the  passengers  of  the  Red  Rover  steamer,  which  was 
ascending  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  St.  Louis,  I  found  my 
Texan  adventurer.  A  numerous  group  of  Kentuckians 
surrounded  him,  and  lent  a  willing  ear  to  his  hunting 
narratives.  I  did  as  they  did ;  but  the  reader  may  con- 
ceive my  astonishment,  nay,  my  stupefaction,  when  I 
heard  our  raconteur's  well-known  romance  undergo  a  third 
and  still  more  wonderful  transformation. 

"  One  hour,  two  hours,  three  hours  passed ;  no  help 
arrived ;  and  I  felt  that  my  strength  was  failing.  I 
should  have  essayed  to  kill  all  the  peccaries ;  but  unfor- 
tunately, in  order  to  climb  the  tree,  I  had  flung  my  rifle 
on  the  ground.  What  should  I  do  ?  I  was  on  the  point 
of  abandoning  myself  to  despair,  of  leaping  into  the  midst 
of  my  besiegers,  and  making  a  hopeless  sortie,  when  my 
friend  suddenly  appeared  upon  the  scene.  As  soon  as 
he  saw  my  terrible  position,  he,  without  giving  a  thought 
to  the  risk  he  ran,  took  aim  at  the  largest  peccary,  fired, 
and  killed  him.  Immediately  the  whole  herd  turned 
upon  him,  growling  frightfully.  The  instinct  of  self- 
preservation  led  my  friend  to  imitate  my  example,  and 
clamber  up  the  nearest  tree.  Then  I  descended,  while 
the  peccaries  raged  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  where  my 
friend  was  posted.  I  seized  my  gun,  reloaded  it,  and 
sent  a  ball  through  the  head  of  one  of  the  animals.  They 
straightway  rushed  upon  me ;  but,  nimble  as  a  squirrel, 
I  regained  my  branch.  My  friend  descended  in  his  turn, 
regained  his  rifle,  advanced  within  range,  killed  one  of  our 
adversaries,  and  rapidly  remounted  into  his  tree. 

"  Then  I  redescended ;  reloaded ;  shot  another  peccary ; 
was  again  pursued;  but  again  made  good  my  retreat, 


190  THE  GASCON Y  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

without  suffering  injury.  Will  you  believe  it,  gentlemen] 
fifteen  times  I  repeated  this  manoeuvre ;  fifteen  times  my 
friend  repeated  it ;  and  these  stupid  animals  never  failed 
to  rush  after  the  last  person  who  had  fired  upon  them. 
When  we  had  killed  them  all,  we  counted  the  spoil ; 
there  lay  exactly  fifteen  peccaries  at  the  foot  of  my  tree, 
and  exactly  fifteen  others  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  where 
my  friend  had  sought  refuge." 

The  fertile  imagination  of  the  Texan  hunter  far  exceeded, 
in  reference  to  this  particular  line  of  exploit,  anything  I 
had  ever  been  able  to  dream  of  I  inquired  of  the  steam- 
boat captain,  who  appeared  to  know  him  intimately,  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  was  informed  that  this  hero  of  the 
woods  first  saw  daylight  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash. 
I  was  much  edified  by  this  information,  and  so  will  be  my 
readers,  when  I  tell  them  that  the  Wabash  is  the  Ga- 
ronne of  North  America ;  in  other  words,  that  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Wabash  is  the  North  American  Gascony  ! 

Here  I  conclude  my  chapter  on  the  Peccary,  for  after 
the  Texan  hunter's  adventure  I  could  relate  nothing 
which  would  not  appear  flat  and  uninteresting.  Truth 
is  not  always  stranger  than  fiction ;  and  my  genuine  ex- 
periences assuredly  do  not  approach  in  excitement  and 
singularity  to  the  adventure  in  which  the  Texan,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  account,  played  so  prominent  a  part. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 


THE    STAG. 


N  the  wave-worn  coast  of  South  Carolina  lies 
a  magnificent  island  called  Edisto,  planted 
with  cotton-trees  in  the  cultivated  portions, 
and  clothed,  in  the  centre  and  at  the  northern 
extremity,  with  an  immense  forest  abounding  in  all  kinds 
of  game.  The  colonists  who  have  subdivided  it,  or  rather 
to  whom  the  different  farms  and  plantations  have  de- 
scended by  inheritance,  were  the  most  hospitable  and 
genial  persons  whom  I  met  with  during  my  whole  sojourn 
in  the  United  States.  The  elegant  villas  which  they 
inhabit  during  the  beautiful  seasons  of  the  year, — spring, 
autumn,  and  winter, — are  fitted  up  with  every  comfort 
and  luxury  which  the  heart  could  desire.  In  a  word,  the 
life  which  men  lead  at  Edisto  has  always  seemed  to  me, 


192  A  PLEASANT  SCENE. 

with  but  little  difference,  like  that  which  lulled  the  heroic 
Hannibal  to  sleep  during  his  fatal  residence  at  Capua. 

As  for  myself,  I  declare  that  I  have  never  spent  hap- 
pier hours  than  those  which  I  passed  with  my  good 
friends  the  owners  of  School ey's  Mansion;  and  if  this  page 
should  ever  be  unfolded  before  them,  let  it  bear  witness 
to  my  sincere  gratitude  to  Mr.  Dallifold  and  all  his 
family. 

Let  my  readers  picture  to  themselves  a  very  attractive 
brick-built  mansion,  painted  of  a  rose-tinted  white,  the 
colour  of  the  magnolia  flower.  A  green  verandah,  sup- 
ported by  a  colonnade  embellished  with  lianas,  and  running 
all  round  the  house,  gives  it  a  fairy-like  aspect,  rendered 
still  more  graceful  by  the  flowering  trees  planted  on  every 
side;  so  that  the  house,  embosomed  in  the  shadow,  re- 
sembles a  nest  of  humming-birds  concealed  in  a  bush  of 
odorous  acacias.  The  balmy  breath  of  the  orange  and 
citron  trees  are  so  much  the  sweeter,  that  they  are  borne 
on  the  wings  of  a  warm  and  gentle  breeze  which  rises 
from  the  sea,  whose  waves  wash  the  sloping  greensward 
of  the  garden-lawn.  Gilded  pheasants,  and  the  birds  of 
China  and  Japan,  daintily  pick  up  in  the  avenues  the 
grains  distributed  by  the  planter's  two  pretty  Creole 
daughters;  and  in  ponds  and  canals  of  salt-water,  re- 
newed at  every  tide,  fishes  of  all  kinds  disport,  perfectly 
acclimatized,  and  resigned,  so  to  speak,  to  their  transient 
captivity.  This  flowery  Eden  is,  I  think,  the  most  pic- 
turesque in  the  world.  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to 
describe  it  as  best  I  could,  before  resuming  my  details  of 
the  chase. 

I  had  brought,  along  with  my  portmanteau,  an  excel- 


AT  BREAKFAST.  193 

lent  rifle  by  Lepage,  which  had  already  done  good  service 
in  my  swan-hunting  expedition.  On  the  day  after  my 
arrival  at  Edisto,  taking  with  me  a  negro  of  the  planta- 
tion, I  set  forth  to  explore  the  ground,  following  up  the 
course  of  the  lolof. 

In  two  hours  I  had  the  luck  to  see  numerous  flocks  of 
wild  ducks,  several  pairs  of  pheasants,  a  dozen  or  so  of 
turkeys,  two  deer,  and,  better  still,  a  catamount  (cat  of 
the  mountains),  one  of  the  most  voracious  of  the  North 
American  carnaria.  Of  all  this  game  I  killed  my  share, 
and  with  a  dozen  trophies  hanging  on  the  shoulders  of 
Adonis, — for  such  was  my  attendant's  mythological  name, 
-^we  returned  to  Mr.  Dallifold's  villa. 

During  breakfast,  my  host  proposed  that  I  should 
accompany  him  and  his  friends  in  a  grand  hunting  ex- 
cursion to  the  island  of  St.  John,  which  lies  contiguous 
to  Edisto,  and  whose  woods  are  frequented  by  numbers 
of  the  Virginian  deer.*  The  project  pleased  me,  and  I 
gladly  assented  to  it.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  my  host 
sent  word  to  several  of  his  neighbours  ;  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  crossed  in  a 
light  boat  the  arm  of  the  sea  which  separates  Edisto  from 
St.  John,  to  land  in  front  of  a  little  hut  occupied  as  a 
stable  and  stable-house  by  some  negro  keepers  of  a  manada 
of  mustangs,  belonging  to  Mr.  Dallifold. 

The  dogs  were  coupled,  the  horses  saddled,  the  break- 
fast served  on  a  rustic  table  covered  with  a  white  cloth ; 

*  This  is  a  generic  name  given  by  Audubon  to  the  noble  animal  described 
by  Gaston  Phoebus  and  so  many  other  authors.  Observe,  by  the  way,  that 
the  stag  of  the  United  States  is  of  about  the  same  size  and  appearance  as  that  of 
France,  and  is  only  distinguished  from  the  European  kind  by  its  antlers, 
which  are  curved  inwards,  with  the  point  towards  the  snout  ;  so  that  while  the 
European  stag  strikes  and  defends  himself  with  raised  head,  the  American 
acts  in  an  exactly  opposite  manner,  like  the  hammer  on  the  anvil. 

(414)  13 


194  A  PARTY  OF  SIX. 

SO,  when  we  had  satisfied  an  appetite  whetted  by  the 
keen  air  of  the  ocean,  each  hastened  to  select  the  tackie 
which  he  thought  would  carry  him  best. 

We  started,  six  in  number,  preceded  by  as  many 
negroes  holding  the  dogs  in  leash  ;  and  after  traversing 
some  five  or  six  miles  at  a  sharp  trot,  arrived  at  a  clearing 
in  the  forest  where  three  roads  met.  There  we  were 
joined  by  four  other  gentlemen,  whose  residences  at 
Edisto  were  about  two  miles  distant  from  the  place  of 
rendezvous. 

One  of  them,  an  old  hunter,  had  brought  no  gun  ;  for, 
said  he,  ^'  the  deer  is  not  really  game,  nor  can  it  be 
lawfully  shot,  except  from  July  to  December.  I  will 
not  therefore  expend  an  ounce  of  powder  upon  any  one  of 
them  j  but  I  can't  resist  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  noble 
beasts  run,  and  the  charm  of  your  friendly  company  has 
decided  me  to  violate  my  vow  never  to  hunt  during 
the  close  season."  ''"  And,  be  it  said  en  passant,  about 
mid-day  a  stag  dashed  so  close  upon  him  as  to  tear  his 
boot  with  one  of  its  antlers.  The  old  planter  contented 
himself  with  dealing  a  volley  of  blows  with  his  whip 
upon  the  back  and  shoulders  of  the  poor  beast,  which 
disappeared  in  a  thicket,  where  an  unarmed  hunter  did 
not  think  it  prudent  to  pursue  him. 

All  six  of  us  were  armed  with  double-barrelled  guns, 
loaded  with  deershot,  and  each  carried  his  weapon  at  his 
saddle-bow. 

Mr.  Dallif old's  chief  ^'  whipper-in  "  was  an  old  negro, 
named  Hector  ;  a  queer,  strange  creature,  whose  wrinkled 
face,  and  white  frizzled  hair  and  thick  lower  lip  as  red  as  a 

*  For  six  months  of  the  year,  stag-hunting  is  forbidden  by  law  in  some  of 
the  United  States. 


WAITING  FOR  THE  QUARRY.  195 

cherry,  hanging  down  so  as  to  reveal  a  row  of  white  teeth 
uninjured  by  the  tobacco  which  he  had  chewed  for  sixty 
years,  are  still  before  my  eyes.  From  his  earliest  youth 
he  had  been  a  hunter,  and  his  master  had  appointed  him 
gamekeeper  and  head  whipper-in  at  Schooley's  Mansion. 
To  examine  his  bright  eye;  his  thin  legs,  encased  in  a 
pair  of  boots  armed  with  long  spurs ;  to  see  him  mounted 
on  a  pony  whose  back  bore  an  upright  saddle,  his  feet 
resting  in  huge  stirrups, — was  enough  to  convince  you 
that  he  understood  his  business,  and  would  not  suffer  us 
to  return  home  empty. 

"  Ah  well,  Hectof,  what  news  ?  Shall  we  have  tolerable 
sport  to  day  ^''  said  my  host  to  his  slave. 

*'  First-rate  !''  cried  Hector ;  ^'1  will  show  you  the  great 
stag ;  only  you  hunters  must  take  care  to  fire  straight." 

'^  Bravo,  my  old  one  !  Crack  your  whip,  and  let  the 
hounds  go  ! — ^On,  then,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  turning 
towards  us  ;  "  take  your  guns,  and  choose  your  places." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  hounds  were  uncoupled,  and  we 
found  it  no  easy  task  to  keep  up  with  them,  even  at  full 
gallop  and  on  a  straight  road.  At  length,  doubling 
round  a  rock,  they  plunged  into  the  wood,  and  at  a  sign 
from  the  whipper-in,  as  had  been  previously  agreed,  we 
placed  ourselves  at  fifty  yards  from  one  another. 

I  glided  under  a  gigantic  oak,  whose  branches  sheltered 
me,  and  concealed  me  from  all  eyes.  Before  me  a  narrow 
avenue  opened  into  the  forest,  which,  according  to  my 
knowledge  of  the  chase,  ought  to  form  a  good  road  for 
the  deer.  I  experienced  an  emotion  which  every  hunter 
will  readily  comprehend,  an  emotion  blended  with  fear ; 
for  I  knew  I  had  as  many  chances  of  receiving  a  stray 
bullet  in  my  head  as  of  seeing  a  deer  within  range. 


196  A  TOUCH  OF  ^^  DEER-FEVER." 

Suddenly,  about  twenty  paces  in  front  of  me,  the 
brushwood  opened,  and  out  of  it  leaped  a  magnificent  ten- 
antlered  stag,  who  stationed  himself  in  the  middle  of  the 
avenue,  and  stood  there  in  statuesque  dignity.    A  feverish 


HE   STOOD   THERE   IN   STATUESQUE   DIGNITY. 


agitation  thrilled  through  my  entire  frame ;  I  was  seized 
with  the  disease  known  in  the  United  States  as  the  deer- 
fever, — an  emotion  very  natural  when  one  finds  oneself 
close  to  an  enormous  beast.  When  I  mechanically  raised 
my  gun,  and  discharged  the  trigger,  the  vision  had 
disappeared,  the  reality  was  no  longer  aught  but  a  dream. 
Borne  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  the  stag  had  thrown 
himself  between  two  hunters :  their  four  barrels  had  proved 
useless;  and  he  dashed  into  the  middle  of  the  plain, 
flying  at  his  utmost  speed  to  escape  from  a  neighbourhood 
so  dangerous  as  ours. 

The  dogs  recovered  the  scent,  and  we  followed  in  theii^ 


AN  UNFORTUNATE  MISHAP.  197 

track.  It  was  a  favourable  opportunity  for  the  display 
of  our  equestrian  skill.  We  understood  that  it  was  the 
object  of  the  stag  to  reach  the  other  and  more  secluded 
part  of  the  forest;  our  tactic  was  to  prevent  him  by 
reaching  the  goal  before  him,  and  barring  his  passage. 

In  front  of  all  of  us  galloped  a  hunter  mounted  on  a 
mare  of  unequalled  swiftness.  I  saw  him  raise  his  gun  and 
fire  ;  but  the  stag  escaped  untoiiched  :  he  leaped  up  at  the 
unwonted  sound,  and  darted  aside,  but  still  in  the 
direction  of  the  deep  wood.  The  shot  only  quickened  his 
erratic  course.  Our  hunting  companion  had  yet  another 
chance ;  namely,  to  drive  the  stag  towards  the  edge  of  a 
great  ditch,  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  cross 
at  a  leap.  On  this  manoeuvre  he  resolved,  and  we  saw 
him  dig  his  spurs  into  the  flanks  of  his  steed,  and  guide 
her  towards  the  border  of  the  wood,  where  he  arrived 
just  as  the  stag  crossed  the  road,  a  hundred  paces  from 
him.  For  some  seconds  we  lost  sight  both  of  the  hunter 
and  the  hunted  ;  but  all  at  once  the  echoes  repeated  the 
noise  of  a  fire-arm.  Each  of  us  then  dashed  ahead  to 
arrive  first  upon  the  scene,  and  on  coming  near  the 
hunter,  a  sad  spectacle  presented  itself  to  our  eyes. 
Before  us  lay  our  companion's  mare,  expiring ;  and  at 
fifteen  paces  distant,  the  stag,  sobbing  and  moaning  in  his 
last  agonies. 

What  had  happened  *? 

In  the  ardour  of  his  pursuit,  the  hunter  had  attempted 
to  leap  his  mare  over  a  dwarf  palm,  in  whose  rear  bristled 
the  trunk  of  a  tree  cut  in  the  form  of  a  stake ;  the 
mare,  falling  on  this  unexpected  cheval  defrise,  had  im- 
paled herself  in  the  middle  of  her  chest.  The  rider  was 
flung  to  the  ground,  but  without  experiencing  any  great 


198  TO  THE  SADDLE  ! 

shock.  Springing  to  his  feet,  with  his  rifle  still  in  his 
hand,  he  caught  sight  of  the  stag  at  thirty  yards  in 
advance,  and  with  a  single  shot  brought  him  down. 

Old  Hector,  who  had  rejoined  us,  embraced  the  poor 
mare,  reciting  a  funeral  oration  over  her  dead  body ;  but 
Mr.  Dallifold  soon  interrupted  his  unseasonable  lament- 
ations, and  ordered  him  to  find  a  fresh  scent.  Two  of 
the  friends  of  the  dismounted  hunter  proposed  to  keep 
him  company,  until  our  host's  negroes  came  to  carry 
away  the  game,  and  the  mare's  harness.  We  resumed 
our  hunt  in  the  forest  depths,  whose  lofty  and  spreading 
trees  almost  shut  out  the  rays  of  the  sun.  The  axe  had 
never  profaned  these  giants  of  the  wood,  and  Robin  Hood, 
had  he  lived  in  America,  could  not  have  desired  a  safer 
retreat  for  himself  and  his  merry  rovers. 

Hector,  who  guided  our  march,  at  length  bade  us  halt; 
and  while  he  was  searching  for  the  trail,  we  took  the 
opportunity  of  satisfying  the  cravings  of  a  hungry  stomach. 
An  improvised  lunch,  consisting  of  cold  meat  and  good 
Bordeaux  wine,  restored  both  our  strength  and  our  good 
humour. 

^^To  the  saddle  !"  suddenly  cried  Mr.  Dallifold;  ^^Hector 
and  his  dogs  have  started  another  deer." 

Scarcely  were  our  feet  in  the  stirrups,  before  a  troop 
composed  of  six  deer  and  a  stag  passed  in  front  of  us  at 
twenty  yards  distant,  followed  by  the  entire  pack  bark- 
ing their  very  loudest.  "We  were  now  seven  in  number, 
each  carrying  a  double  barrel.  The  discharge  was  simul- 
taneous, and  when  the  smoke  cleared  away  we  counted 
five  deer  and  a  ten-antler  rolling  on  the  ground  in  the 
convulsions  of  death.  The  seventh  animal,  wounded  in 
the  chest,  close  to  the  lung,  had  strength  enough  to  keep 


ArPEARANCE  OF  C^SAR.  199 

up  his  flight ;  but  next  evening  we  found  him  dead,  on 
the  sea-shore,  close  to  the  point  of  embarkation  for 
Schooley's  Mansion. 

We  did  not  quit  St.  John's  until  very  late  ;  the  moon 
shone  reflected  in  the  wake  of  our  boat,  in  whose  bows 
the  spoil  of  our  rifles  was  accumulated. 

During  supper,  each  guest  related  the  most  interesting 
hunting  stories  he  could  remember.  One  of  them,  in 
reference  to  the  law  forbidding  the  entrapping  of  the 
deer  during  night  by  means  of  fire, — -a  kind  of  poaching 
very  popular  in  the  United  States, — told  us  a  tale  which 
I  shall  faithfully  transcribe  for  the  benefit  of  my  readers :  — 

It  was  an  autumn  evening,  three  years  ago.  The 
air  was  fresh,  almost  to  coldness ;  and  though  the  stars 
glittered  on  the  horizon,  a  penetrating  humidity  prevailed, 
and  condensed  into  a  heavy  mist,  to  descend  afterwards 
in  big  drops  as  of  rain  on  the  trees  planted  round  the 
pleasure-house  of  my  friend  Ramson,  the  richest  planter 
in  South  Carolina,  and  known,  I  believe,  gentlemen,  to 
every  one  of  us.  My  friend's  overseer  was  conversing,  in 
front  of  the  house,  with  a  negro  who  had  brought  him 
a  letter. 

"  Ah,  you  are  back  from  Charleston,  and  you  have 
been  talking  to  the  master,  as  I  see.  Why,  you  scamp, 
why  did  you  tell  him  the  deer  came  every  night  and  eat 
up  his  beans'?" 

"  Massa  Slouch,"  the  negro  replied,  laughing,  "  it  was 
not  I  who  said  this  to  Squire  Kamson." 

''  You  lie,  Csesar.  The  hope  of  obtaining  a  shilling 
loosened  your  tongue,  and  yet  I  advised  you  not  to  make 


200  POMPEY  THE  POACHER. 

known  this  discovery  to  any  one.  Well,  you  shall  pay 
for  your  garrulousness.     Go,  and  send  Pompey  to  me." 

The  negro  whom  the  overseer  thus  soundly  rated  did 
not  need  a  second  order  to  take  his  departure,  and,  leaving 
the  overseer  to  his  reflections,  he  ran  towards  the  negroes' 
huts  which  bordered  the  verdant  lawn  on  the  noi'th  of 
the  plantation. 

A  few  moments  afterwards  Pompey  presented  himself 
before  the  overseer,  and  the  latter,  without  listening  to 
the  exclamations  of  Csesar's  comrade,  ordered  him  to 
collect  a  sufficient  (quantity  of  pine-apples,  and  prepare  a 
pan,  that  he  might,  the  same  evening,  get  up  a  hunt  by  fire. 

"But,"  timidly  objected  Pompey,  "when  Mr.  Kamson 
returns  to-morrow,  if  the  stags  have  ceased  to  frequent 
his  field  in  the  evening,  he  will  accuse  us  of  having  hu.nted 
them  on  our  own  account." 

"  What  does  it  matter  to  you  ?  All  that  you  have  to 
say  is  that  you  know  nothing  about  it ;  and  it  is  only  Oil 
this  condition  that  I  will  refrain  from  telling  your  master 
that  you  have  already  killed — you  yourself  alone — four 
deer,  and  afterwards  sold  them  at  Charleston.  I  know 
your  poaching  tricks,  as  you  see,  and  have  you  in  my 
power.     Silence  for  silence  ! " 

Pompey  lowered  his  eyes  when  accused  of  poaching, 
and  without  further  expostulation  promised  to  make 
every  preparation  for  the  nocturnal  hunt. 

An  hour  after  sunset  the  overseer,  preceded  by  a  negro 
carrying  a  sack  of  pine-apples  and  a  frying-pan,  quitted 
his  master's  house,  mounted  on  a  horse  covered  with  a 
sheep-skin,  and  carrying  a  large  saddle.  He  held,  coiled 
up  in  his  hands,  a  rope  terminating  in  a  hook,  intended  to 
drag  along  the  game  after  it  was  killed. 


A  ^^CHASSE  AU  FEU."  201 

Kight  was  come ;  the  atmosphere  was  transparent,  and 
the  stars  shone  in  the  heavens.  Not  a  breath  of  wind 
stirred  the  leaves  of  the  forest,  and  echo  scarcely  repeated 
the  footfall  of  the  horse  and  of  the  negro  who  guided  his 
steps. 

'^  Here  we  are,"  said  Pompey,  at  length;  *Hhe  moon 
will  soon  go  down  behind  the  mountain ;  the  wind 
freshens ;  and  in  half  an  hour,  if  nothing  disturbs  them, 
the  deer  will  come  down  to  their  pasturage." 

While  the  overseer  examined  his  carbine,  and  carefully 
loaded  it,  Pompey  made  ready  the  frying-pan,  hung  it  to 
a  tree,  and  after  filling  it  with  pine-apples,  set  fire  to  this 
new  kind  of  hunting  engine. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  ^'  Massa  Slouch,  hand  me  the  rifle, 
and  I  will  show  you  how  we  set  to  work  at  a  chasse  aufeu^ 

"  No,  no,  you  beast,"  answered  the  overseer,  rudely ; 
"I  would  rather  fire  myself;  besides,  I  can't  trust  to 
your  skill :  you  will  fire  too  wide.'* 

"  I  am  more  skilful  than  you  think,  and  I  can  tell  by 
the  size  of  his  eyes  at  what  distance  the  cayeute  or  the 
stag  is  moving  in  the  distance.  However,  do  as  you  like, 
Massa  Slouch ;  but  be  sure  and  keep  silent,  and  creep 
along  the  ground  so  as  not  to  frightei^  the  game." 

Without  more  delay  the  two  poachers  advanced  in  the 
gloom,  avoiding  the  rays  of  light  which  the  blazing  pine- 
applos  emitted.  They  had  scarcely  gone  fifty  yards  when, 
at  twenty  yards  before  them,  they  discovered  a  magnificent 
full-grown  stag  browzing  on  Mr.  Kamson's  beans.  But 
before  Slouch  could  take  aim  the  auimal  disappeared. 

"Confusion!"  cried  the  overseer,  "I  have  lost  a 
splendid  chance ;  but  never  mind,  if  he  is  not  alone,  wpe 
to  his  companion  1 " 


202  AN  AWKWARD  SHOT. 

Silence  again  prevailed,  and  the  two  men  continued  to 
advance  on  all-fours  in  the  furrows  of  the  bean-field. 
Suddenly  the  first  halted,  and  with  his  foot  struck  the 
shoulder  of  the  negro,  who  stopped  in  his  turn.  At  fifty 
feet,  in  the  track  of  the  moonlight,  stood  a  second  stag 
as  big  as  the  former. 

To  advance  further  would  have  been  imprudent.  So 
Slouch  shouldered  his  rifle,  and  after  having  taken  aim 
for  a  few  seconds,  let  go  the  trigger.  The  stag  made  a 
bound,  and  fell  back  heavily  on  the  ground.  He  was 
dead  ! 

The  report  had  awakened  all  the  neighbouring  echoes, 
and  the  owls,  who  were  brooding  among  the  boughs,  flew 
into  the  air,  terrified  by  the  unaccustomed  sounds.  It 
was  a  solemn  spectacle.  To  spring  towards  the  place 
where  the  noble  animal  lay  extended,  to  make  sure  that 
he  had  ceased  to  live,  to  cut  him  and  remove  the  intestines, 
to  tie  his  feet  together  and  throw  him  over  the  horse^s 
crupper,  was  the  work  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

These  operations  were  performed  in  silence.  So,  when 
all  was  finished,  at  the  moment  that  Pompey,  who  held 
the  horse's  bridle,  made  ready  to  take  the  road  back  to 
Mr.  Kamson's  house,  the  two  poachers  trembled,  for  a 
sudden  noise  disturbed  the  intense  hush. 

Slouch,  who  had  hastily  reloaded  his  carbine,  turned 
in  the  direction  of  the  fire,  which  was  still  burning ;  his 
eyes  encountered  those  of  an  animal  advancing  towards  it. 

Another  report  was  heard.  Immediately,  Pompey, 
springing  to  the  front,  cried  out,  in  terror, — 

*^  Alas,  alas  !  you  have  killed  the  colt  of  Squire  Ram- 
son's  favourite  mare  ! " 

And,  true  enough,  there  lay  in  the  stiflhess  of  death  a 


THE  UNFAITHFUL  OVERSEER.  203 

magnificent  two  years  old  colt :  the  ball  had  struck  him 
in  the  shoulder,  and  sunk  deep  into  the  fiesh. 

*^  What  on  earth  shall  we  do  ? "  said  Slouch ;  "  shall  we 
bury  the  beast  ? — The  stench  will  betray  it.  Or  throw  it 
into  the  pond  1 — That  will  be  just  as  bad.  Oh,  I  have 
it ! "  said  he,  as  if  struck  by  a  sudden  thought.  *^  Help 
me,  Pompey ;  I  have  hit  on  a  means  of  concealing  my 
ill-luck,  and  no  one  will  be  a  whit  the  wiser." 

The  two  poachers  dragged  the  animal  towards  a  hedge 
composed  of  stakes  piled  one  upon  another,  and  thrust 
the  pony  on  one  of  them,  exactly  at  the  place  where  the 
bullet  had  penetrated  his  body. 

*' To-morrow,'^  said  Slouch,  ^Hhe  eagles  and  buzzards 
will  attack  the  beast,  and  before  evening  not  a  soul  will 
be  able  to  tell  how  he  met  his  death ;  it  can  only  be 
guessed  that  he  impaled  himself  in  attempting  to  leap 
the  hedge.  Now,  Pompey,  while  I  return  to  the  house, 
do  you  go  as  far  as  the  postmaster's,  and  take  to  Jack  the 
stag  I  have  killed.  Tell  him  to  place  it  on  the  coach  for 
Charleston,  and  see  that  it  is  delivered  at  the  address  he 
knows  of.  Go,  and  remember  to  be  silent  and  prudent. 
You  shall  have  a  dollar  for  your  trouble,  and  two  pounds 
of  tobacco.  One  moment !  A  thought  has  occurred  to 
me  :  instead  of  riding  my  horse,  mount  Mr.  Pamson's 
mare;  this  will  keep  her  away  from  the  grounds,  and^ 
prevent  her  looking  after  the  colt.  On  your  return,  let 
her  loose  in  the  fields,  and  if  anything  happens  to  her, 
so  much  the  worse  1 " 

The  two  poachers  separated ;  and  while  Slouch,  the  im- 
faithful  overseer,  went  to  sleep  tranquilly,  Pompey,  obey- 
ing his  orders,  found  out  the  mare,  saddled  her,  placed  on 
her  back  the  venison  intended  for  sale  at  Charleston,  and 


204:  A  BAD  night's  WORK. 

repaired  to  the  postmaster's  house,  where  Jack  the  driver 
was  in  waiting. 

The  business  was  concluded,  and  Pompey,  mounted  on 
the  mare,  had  regained  the  vicinity  of  Squire  Kamson's 
house,  when  the  beast  made  a  sudden  start  and  threw 
him  on  the  ground.  A  shot  had  been  fired,  and  loud 
groans  disturbed  the  calm  of  the  night.  To  jump  to  his 
feet,  and  hasten  in  the  direction  of  the  sufierer,  was  the 
affair  of  a  moment  with  the  negro  poacher. 

Before  him,  at  the  foot  (y£  a  tree,  a  man  lay  prostrate 
on  the  ground,  murmuring  a  prayer,  and  in  the  last  agonies 
of  death.  Pompey  recognized  in  the  dying  wretch  his 
brother  Csesar,  mortally  wounded  by  a  rifle  ball,  and 
bathed  in  blood. 

*^  Oh,  is  it  you,  my  dearest  brother?  Is  it  youl"  he 
exclaimed  in  frantic  tones.  *^Who  has  done  you  this 
evil  turn  *?  Was  it  Slouch,  the  overseer  ]  Tell  me,  tell 
me ;  for  if  it  was  he,  I  will  kill  him  !  " 

Caesar  made  a  sign  to  his  brother  to  place  him  with  his 
back  against  the  tree ;  and  then,  in  broken  accents,  and  at 
intervals,  the  unfortunate  negro  contrived  to  tell  his 
melancholy  tale.  His  wife,  about  two  hours  before,  had 
been  taken  seriously  ill,  and  he  therefore  started  off  in 
haste,  without  saying  a  word  to  any  one,  in  search  of  the 
district  surgeon.  When  near  the  bean-field  he  caught 
sight  of  the  fire  burning  in  the  pan.  Curiosity  attracted 
him  towards  it,  and,  despite  the  kicks  and  struggles  of 
the  horse  he  rode,  he  had  advanced  almost  up  to  the  hedge. 
Suddenly  he  heard  the  report  of  a  gun,  and  felt  himself 
struck  by  a  ball.  At  his  scream  of  agony  a  poacher  had 
rushed  to  his  assistance,  and,  throwing  himself  on  his 
knees,  implored  him  to  pardon  his  fatal  error  :  seeing  the 


DEATH  OF  THE  NEGRO. 


205 


eyes  of  the  mule,  he  had  thought  to  fire  on  a  stag.  Csesar 
gave  him  his  forgiveness,  and  the  poacher,  fearing  to  be 
surprised,  mounted  his  mare  and  rode  away  for  dear  life. 
^'  Thank  God,"  added  Caesar,  ^'  you  have  come  just  in 
time ;  I  feared  I  should  die  alone  in  the  middle  of  the 
woods.     Oh,  if  I  could  only  once  embrace  my  wife  and 


THANK   GOD,  YOU   HAVE   COME  JUST  IN   TIME." 


her  little  one  !  But  I  must  die  without  seeing  them. 
Pompey,  my  brother,  be  as  a  father  to  the  new-born, 
and  teach  it  my  name.     Adieu,  adieu  !     Oh  ! " 

The  unfortunate  negro  was  dead  ! 

This  event  produced  a  powerful  impression  on  the  negro 
Pompey.  Seized  with  remorse,  he  confessed  to  Mr.  Pam- 
son,  when  he  returned  home  on  the  following  day,  all 
the  details  of  the  poaching  expedition.  The  overseer 
Slouch,  the  primary  cause  of  the  misfortune  that  had 
occurred,  was  dismissed ;  and  as  he  could  not,  for  want 
of  the  necessary  certificate,  obtain  a  place  on  any  plan- 


206  ANOTHER  HUNTING  STORY. 

tation  in  the  Carolinas,  he  quitted  the  country,  and  em- 
barked for  California. 

Pompey  still  lives  at  Ramson  House.  He  has  replaced 
Slouch  in  the  management  of  his  master's  business  trans- 
actions, and  Mr.  Kamson  has  lost  nothing  by  the  change. 

I  will  now  relate  another  hunting  story,  in  which  I 
myself  played  the  hero's  part : — 

On  a  beautiful  day  in  autumn — this  is  the  ordinary 
commencement  of  romances,  but  mine  will  be  a  perfectly 
true  history — I  found  myself^  some  twenty-five  years  ago, 
at  a  tavern  kept  by  an  Irishman  on  the  borders  of  Big 
Wolf  Lake,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  great  sheets  of 
water  named  the  Paranacs,  in  the  northern  district  of  the 
State  of  New  York. 

I  had  been  invited  by  a  gentleman  farijier,  whose 
acquaintance  I  had  made  at  Newport  during  the  season 
of  the  baths,  to  spend  a  week  or  two  with  him,  and  hunt 
the  stag  after  every  American  fashion.  According  to 
Mr.  Eustace, — a  charmingv  companion  at  the  table  and  in 
the  hunting-field,  a  gay  devotee  of  "  sport,"  whatever  the 
kind,  and  wherever  it  was  to  be  found, — the  woods  sur- 
rounding his  farm  of  Crow's  Nest  swarmed  with  animals, 
and  I  might  easily  enjoy  the  gratification  of  bringing 
down  a  dozen  or  two  of  roebucks.  Assuredly,  a  dozen 
stags — that  is,  two  a  day  for  a  week — would  have  sufficed 
me ;  but  four  a  day  seemed  an  exceptional  figure,  and  T 
was  anxious  to  ascertain  whether  Mr.  Eustace  had  not 
drawn  a  little  too  freely  on  his  imagination,  and  boasted 
too  extravagantly  of  his  hunting  domain. 

I  had  arrived  at  Crow's  Nest  on  a  fine  October  day, 
and  been  received  by  Mr.  Eustace  with  a  truly  American 


THE  crow's  nest.  207 

cordiality.  The  lady  of  the  house,  a  very  amiable  woman, 
— originally  of  Baltimore,  the  city  in  the  United  States 
where  blood  is  purest  and  race  most  respected, — immedi- 
a^tely  set  me  quite  at  my  ease,  and  treated  me  as  a 
friend  and  a  brother.  This  may  seem  to  the  reader  a 
trifle,  but  it  is  an  important  fact  for  a  guest  on  his  first 
visit  to  a  family.  Mrs.  Eustace  had  a  son,  a  beautiful 
child  of  seven,  who,  the  moment  he  saw  me,  leaped  upon 
my  neck,  calling  me  his  "  pet  friend,"  and  declaring  with 
a  silvery  voice  he  would  not  leave  me.  By  what  mysteri- 
ous afiinity  did  this  gentle  little  creature  conceive  at  first 
sight  so  fond  a  friendship  for  me  ?  I  cannot  say  :  what 
is  certain  is,  that  he  did  not  quit  my  side  until  I  reached 
the  threshold  of  the  room  set  apart  for  my  use ;  and  that 
on  the  following  day  at  early  dawn,  when  his  father 
summoned  qie  to  breakfast,  and  to  set  out  afterwards  for 
the  chase,  James  (for  this  was  the  child's  name)  accom- 
panied him,  delighted  at  the  opportunity  of  bidding  his 
friend  the  Frenchman  a  hearty  welcome. 

Mrs.  Eustace,  like  a  true  housewife, — like  a  woman 
who  knows  her  influence,  and  understands  that  youth 
and  freshness  have  no  need  of  elaborate  toilettes, — was 
already  at  her  post,  seated  before  a  table  abundantly 
covered  with  cold  meats,  boiled  eggs,  muffins,  and  steam- 
ing hot  cakes  of  maize  and  black  barley.  Everything 
was  cooked  "  to  a  turn,"  and  served  up  with  the  most 
admirable  neatness ;  but  what  doubled  the  pleasure  of 
the  eye  and  the  enjoyment  of  the  taste  was  the  good 
humour  of  my  hostess,  the  gentleness  of  her  child,  and 
the  joyous  temperament  of  the  master  of  the  house. 

The  week  which  I  spent  with  the  amiable  farmers  of 
Crow's  Nest  appears,  in  the  mist  of  the  years  passed  in 


208  A  COUPLE  OF  LANTERNS. 

tlie  United  States,  like  a  fresh  oasis,  where  I  forgot  all 
my  previous  fatigues  and  anxieties. 

The  first  day  after  my  arrival  at  Crow's  Nest  was 
spent  in  walking  about  the  grounds  and  plantations  j  in 
the  evening  we  discussed  the  prospects  of  the  morrow's 
hunting  expedition,  and  we  sat  around  the  tea-table  until 
ten  o'clock — a  late  hour  for  the  people  of  Crow's  Nest, 
who  retired  early  in  order  that  they  might  rise  in  the 
morning  before  dawn.  It  was  the  custom,  and  certainly 
a  custom  better  than  many  others,  for  the  maintenance 
of  health. 

Next  morning  we  were  all  four  seated,  including  my 
little  ffiend  James,  enjoying  the  good  things  presented 
to  us  by  the  negro  David,  our  valet  de  chambre  and  coach- 
man,— in  a  word,  the  factotum  of  the  house, — when  the 
door-bell  rang  with  a  tremendous  peal,  which  made  us 
tremble  on  our  chairs.  David  went  to  see  what  the 
magisterial  summons  portended,  and  a  few  seconds  after- 
wards returned  to  inform  his  master  that  the  locksmith 
had  brought  the  lanterns. 

*^  Ah,  ah,  I  know  what  he  means  ;  let  him  come  in." 

David  executed  his  master's  orders,  and  introduced  the 
locksmith  of  the  neighbouring  village,  who  in  each  hand 
held  a  lantern,  shaped  like  those  in  general  use  in  the 
country,  with  the  sole  difference  that  his  were  hollow 
underneath  like  half  a  pumpkin,  and  provided  in  the 
interior  with  a  reflector,  intended  to  throw  the  light  of 
the  lamp  to  a  distance.  I  must  add  to  this  description 
that  to  each  lantern  was  adapted  a  visor  like  that  of  a 
helmet,  and  two  chin-pieces  identical  with  the  straps 
which  soldiers  wear  at  the  sides  of  their  shakos. 

*^  Well,"  I  cried,  while  closely  examining  the  two  objects, 


EVERY  MAN  HIS  OWN  LAMP-POST  !  209 

whose  use  I  could  not  understand,  ^^  what  will  you  do 
with  these  engines  *?  '^ 

'^You  do  not  comprehend?"  answered  Mr.  Eustace. 
"  Try,  my  dear  sir,  if  you  can  guess  what  I  intend  to 
do  with  these  lanterns,  without  my  explaining  myself 
further." 

Uttering  these  words,  the  good  farmer  placed  on  his 
Greek  cap  one  of  the  two  lanterns,  and  fastened  under 
his  chin  the  two  straps  appended  to  it.  And  my  friend 
James,  imitating  his  father,  as  all  children  do,  covered 
his  head  with  the  other,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  far- 
mer's dame,  who  laughed  heartily,  as  she  looked  at  the 
droll  physiognomies  of  her  husband  and  son. 

I  was  no  longer  able  to  preserve  my  own  gravity,  and 
abandoned  myself  to  the  most  immoderate  merriment. 

"  Good,  good,"  cried  the  farmer,  '^  all  this  is  fair ;  but 
at  dark  to-night  you  will  not  laugh,  I  am  certain.  You 
do  not  understand ;  so  much  the  worse  for  you.  This 
shall  be  your  punishment,  and  I  will  tell  you  nothing 
respecting  it." 

As  the  reader  will  suppose,  I  was  sensible  of  this 
reproach,  and  recovering  myself  at  once,  I  swallowed  my 
last  cup  of  tea,  and  seized  my  double-barrelled  gun,  which 
was  suspended,  along  with  Mr.  Eustace's,  to  a  pair  of 
magnificent  antlers. 

"  Let  us  start,"  said  I,  taking  a  courteous  leave  of  the 
mistress  of  the  house,  and  embracing  my  friend  James  ; 
and  I  set  out,  while  the  farmer  informed  his  wife  that  she 
was  not  to  expect  our  return  before  midnight,  or  rather 
before  one  or  two  in  the  mornino:. 

Mr.  Eustace's  house,  situated  in  a  valley  watered  by  an 
offshoot  of  Big  Wolf  Lake,  surrounded  by  time-old  cedars, 

(414)  U 


210  A  WATER-SCENE  AT  NIGHT. 

gigantic  oaks,  and  luxuriant  walnuts,  was  admirably 
placed  for  an  amateur  of  tlie  chase.  Wood  on  the  right ; 
cultivated  fields  on  the  left ;  meadows  surrounded  by 
trunks  of  trees  set  like  chevaux  de  frise,  for  the  purpose 
of  preventing  the  game  from  devastating  the  plantations  of 
maize,  potatoes,  batatas,  barley,  and  wheat ;  a  bright  shining 
lake  in  front  of  the  house, — a  lake  twelve  miles  long  and 
three  miles  broad, — whose  banks  were  covered  with  reeds, 
and  frequented  by  herons,  bustards,  grebes,  water-hens, 
geese,  and  ducks  of  every  species — including  the  famous 
canvas-back,  the  king  of  the  palmipeds  of  North  America. 
Everything  combined  to  make  Crow's  Nest  one  of  the 
most  magnificent  of  ''  hunting-boxes." 

A  boat  awaited  us  in  the  creek,  at  about  a  gunshot 
from  the  farm.  David  stood  in  the  bow,  boat-hook  in 
hand,  keeping  it  close  in  to  the  bank  until  Mr.  Eustace 
and  I  had  embarked. 

No  sooner  were  we  seated  in  the  stern  than  Mr.  Eustace 
took  the  rudder,  and  gave  the  signal  of  departure.  David, 
disengaging  the  boat  from  the  water-lilies  and  reeds  which 
flourished  on  the  bank,  soon  pushed  out  into  the  middle, 
and  rowed  us  hastily  in  a  northerly  direction. 

It  was,  as  I  said  at  the  beginning  of  this  episode,  a 
beautiful  night ;  the  sun  shone  on  the  horizon,  water- 
birds  fluttered  around  us,  and  before  we  reached  the 
Irishman's  hut  Mr.  Eustace  and  I  had  killed  a  score, 
which  a  capitally  trained  spaniel,  my  friend's  faithful 
companion,  hastened  in  search  of  without  waiting  for  the 
word  of  command,  and  diving,  if  need  were,  when  any 
wounded  bird  thought  by  this  means  to  escape  his  obsti- 
nate pursuit.  And,  with  but  one  or  two  exceptions,  the 
quadruped  always  carried  off  the  palmiped. 


HUNTING  THE  DEER.  211 

The  Irishman,  Samuel  Patrick  O'Donoghue  by  name, 
more  generally  known  by  abbreviation  as  '^  Pat,"  was  the 
landlord  of  a  tavern,  which  supplied  food  and  liquor  to  a 
company  of  workmen  engaged  in  opening  up  a  quicksilver 
mine  for  a  citizen  of  Boston.  Partly  on  this  resource, 
and  partly  on  the  produce  of  the  chase,  lived  Master  Pat, 
who  was  justly  esteemed  the  most  skilful  sportsman  in 
the  country-side. 

^'  Good  day,  Mr.  Eustace;  good  day,  sirs,"  he  exclaimed, 
lifting  his  foxskin  cap,  the  tail  of  which,  falling  over  his 
head,  resembled  the  tassel  to  a  life-guard's  helmet.  ^*  Wel- 
come, master  !  You  have  arrived  in  the  very  nick  of 
time.  I  was  exploring  the  wood  this  morning,  and  found, 
at  about  an  hour's  journey  from  here,  in  the  bushes  of 
the  *  Devil's  Hole,'  three  troops  of  deer,  numbering  at 
least  a  score  of  heads." 

While  Pat  announced  these  welcome  tidings,  David, 
who  had  moored  his  boat,  brought  our  game-bags  in  one 
hand,  and  in  the  other  the  lanterns  manufactured  by  Mr. 
Eustace's  locksmith. 

"  Bravo  !"  cried  Pat,  overcome  with  joy  at  the  sight  of 
the  two  tin  utensils  painted  black ;  "  bravo  !  this  will  be 
a  jolly  affair  !  We  will  just  show  your  friend  how  we 
hunt  the  deer  in  this  part  of  the  country  ! " 

'^  Good,  but  not  a  word  more  !  I  want  to  surprise 
my  French  friend  here;  so,  Pat,  keep  the  secret  until 
evening.  Shut  your  mouth,  or  talk  about  something 
else." 

"All  right,"  shouted  the  innkeeper;  and  without 
another  word  he  entered  the  interior  of  his  hut,  took 
down  his  gun,  whistled  for  his  two  hounds,  and  then  pre- 
ceded us  along  a  narrow  pathway  which  led  into  the  heart 


212  A  TRIPLE  DISCHARGE. 

of  the  mountains  surrounding  Big  Wolf  Lake,  and  termi- 
nated at  the  Devil's  Hole. 

The  path  was  abrupt,  very  narrow,  precipitous,  sinuous, 
and  sometimes  dangerous ;  but  we  had  all  three  the 
sailor's  steady  foot,  and  no  accident  befell  us  during  our 
peregrination,  which  lasted  for  about  an  hour  and  a 
quarter. 

The  cedars,  close  set  one  against  another,  rendered  the 
passage  very  difficult.  But,  thanks  to  our  vigorous 
hands,  we  cleared  an  issue,  and  finally  arrived  before  a 
kind  of  clearing,  in  whose  centre,  at  sixty  yards'  distance, 
some  fifteen  deer  of  every  size  and  age,  and  of  both  sexes, 
were  either  standing  or  lying  down,  browzing  on  the 
herbage,  with  open  eye  and  ear  erect. 

"  Now,  then,  my  Nimrod  from  over  the  sea,"  whispered 
Mr.  Eustace,  ^'  are  you  not  content  1  You  have  nothing 
to  do  but  to  take  good  aim  and  fire  straight.  Attention  ! 
We  are  in  good  wind,  and  have  three  rifles  to  discharge. 
Pat,"  added  he  in  a  low  voice  to  our  guide,  "  you  fire  to 
the  left,  I  will  take  the  centre,  and  you,  monsieur,"  turn- 
ing to  me,  "  the  right.  That  is  agreed.  Take  your  time; 
count  twenty;  and  then,  fire  !" 

Each  took  up  his  position,  and  on  a  signal  from  Mr. 
Eustace,  shouldered  his  weapon  and  began  to  count. 

Suddenly  a  threefold  discharge  rang  through  the  wood, 
followed  at  a  very  brief  interval  by  two  fresh  reports  from 
my  host  and  myself,  who  carried  double-barrels. 

^'  Bravo,  well  shot ! "  shouted  Mr.  Eustace,  as  he  sprang 
into  the  open  space  and  contemplated  the  victims  of  our 
quintuple  discharge. 

Four  stags  lay  prostrate  on  the  greensward,  still  writh- 
ing in  the  last  convulsions  of  the  death  agony. 


TAKING  TO  THE  WATER.  213 

The  fifth  shot  had  not  been  so  well  aimed  as  the  others. 
It  was  I  who  had  to  confess  myself  guilty  of  the  mistake, 
for  emotion  had  paralyzed  me,  and  I  had  hit  the  animal, 
— a  fine  full-grown  deer, — in  the  left  thigh  instead  of  in  the 
neck.  So  the  beast  had  put  forth  all  the  speed  left  in  his 
three  uninjured  legs,  and  Master  Pat's  hounds  darted  in 
hot  pursuit,  barking  their  loudest,  and  behaving  like  the 
noble  animals  they  really  were. 

We  left  them  at  first  to  their  own  devices,  while  we 
examined  our  four  victims  :  two  males,  a  female,  and  a 
fawn.  Then,  while  Pat  undertook  to  cut  open  the  deer 
and  hang  them  to  the  trees  out  of  the  reach  of  carnivorous 
quadrupeds,  Mr.  Eustace  and  myself  started  in  the  track 
of  the  dogs,  who  still  continued  their  noisy  concert,  and 
made  every  echo  ring  with  the  clarion-like  peals.  Guided 
by  the  sounds,  we  retraced  the  path  by  which  we  had  first 
reached  the  stags'  covert,  and  after  about  half-an-hour's 
journey  discovered  that  the  wounded  animal  had  made 
for  the  lake. 

Harassed  by  Pat's  hounds,  he  still  sped  onward,  losing 
blood  rapidly,  but  bent  with  all  the  energy  of  despair  on 
preserving  his  life. 

All  at  once  there  burst  upon  our  eyes  the  dazzling 
splendour  of  the  water  of  a  lagoon  leading  into  Big  Wolf 
Lake.  It  was  there  the  stag  must  be  captured  ;  we  were 
about  to  enjoy  the  spectacle  of  his  taking  to  the  water. 

On  winding  round  a  path  which  we  had  followed  as  ^^  a 
short  cut,"  we  perceived  that  he  was  already  in  the  water 
up  to  his  neck,  and  at  bay  against  the  dogs.  Still  he  was 
evidently  dying,  for  he  feebly  repelled  the  attacks  of  his 
adversaries,  and  just  as  we  reached  the  shore  he  fell  back, 
choked  by  his  own  blood. 


214  AWAY  OVER  THE  LAKE. 

We  hastened  to  drag  him  out  of  the  lagoon,  and  I  was 
then  able  to  admire  at  my  ease  the  most  magnificent  stag 
I  had  ever  beheld  in  my  life.  His  antlers  were  branched 
with  a  most  unusual  regularity,  and  were  of  a  texture  as 
fine  as  a  sea-dog's  hide ;  his  skin  was  of  a  brown-red  of 
all  shades. 

From  the  scene  of  the  stag's  death  to  Pat's  cabin  the 
distance  was  about  five  hundred  yards.  I  therefore  went 
in  search  of  Mr.  Eustace's  servant,  who  came  with  all 
speed  to  assist  his  master  in  carrying  the  game ;  while  I 
kindled  a  fire,  that  everything  might  be  ready  for  our 
evening  repast. 

David,  having  returned  with  my  host,  took  a  mule  out 
of  the  stable  belonging  to  Pat's  tavern,  and  immediately 
started  for  the  clearing  to  join  the  Irishman,  with  whom, 
about  two  hours  afterwards,  he  reappeared,  bringing  the 
four  deer  we  had  shot  in  the  Devil's  Hole. 

Mr.  Eustace  and  I  had  occupied  the  interval  in  getting 
supper,  which  consisted  of  slices  of  venison,  grilled,  and 
seasoned  with  salt  and  pimento.  When  we  were  all 
assembled  we  did  full  justice  to  it. 

Refreshed  by  the  repast,  we  were  all  eager  for  the 
nocturnal  expedition  which  Mr.  Eustace  bad  promised  us; 
and  the  latter,  preceded  by  Pat  and  David,  entering  his 
boat,  made  me  seat  myself  at  his  side. 

The  night  was  dark,  and  had  not  our  eyes  grown  accus- 
tomed to  the  obscurity  of  the  landscape,  we  should  have 
found  it  a  matter  of  difficulty  what  route  to  take.  But 
ten  minutes  after  venturing  on  the  waters  of  the  lake  we 
had  obtained  our  "  cats'  eyes,"  and  our  two  rowers  plied 
their  oars  with  unparalleled  ardour. 


^'  RISE,  CYNTHIA,  QUEEN  OF  NIGHT."  215 

Half-an-hour  sufEced  to  bring  us  to  the  bottom  of  a 
deep  creek,  buried  in  a  forest  of  cedars  and  firs,  where, 
according  to  Pat,  we  should  find  our  game. 

"  This  will  do,"  cried  Mr.  Eustace ;  "  now  let  us  arm 
ourselves  for  the  campaign.  Attention  to  the  lanterns  ! 
A  match,  quick  !  Light  the  wicks,  and  all  will  be 
ready." 

I  did  not  clearly  understand  the  meaning  of  all  this, 
but  I  had  sworn  to  myself  that  I  would  not  ask  a  ques- 
tion. So  I  patiently  waited,  and  watched  Mr.  Eustace, 
who  lighted  the  two  lanterns,  and,  to  my  great  astonish- 
ment, placed  one  of  them  on  his  head,  and  fastened  the 
straps  under  his  chin. 

I  could  not  repress  my  laughter ;  but  when  my  host 
explained  that  all  the  great  beasts  without  exception  ran 
from  the  recesses  of  the  forest  to  see  what  was  meant  by 
a  light  in  the  mid  hours  of  night,  I  instantly  understood 
that  the  reflector  of  the  lantern  was  intended  to  throw 
its  rays  as  far  as  possible,  while  leaving  the  hunter's 
person  in  darkness,  and  enabling  him,  as  a  necessary 
consequence,  to  take  aim  coolly  and  without  hurry. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  friend,"  said  Mr.  Eustace,  "  the 
other  lantern  is  for  you.  As  soon  as  you  have  fixed  i+ 
we  will  land  and  push  into  the  wood." 

I  obeyed  mechanically,  while  Pat  and  David  pushed 
the  boat  ashore.  At  this  very  moment,  by  an  unfortunate 
contre-temps,  the  clouds  which  had  obscured  the  moon 
were  partially  dissipated,  and  the  forest  was  illuminated 
ag  if  it  were  full  day.  This  unexpected  radiancy  dis- 
arranged all  our  plans  ;  but  Mr.  Eustace  persuaded  me  to 
push  forward  and  look  well  before  me,  pretending  that  the 
moonlight  would  not  prevent  us  from  discovering  the  game. 


216  A  GROUP  OF  SEVEN. 

He  was  right,  for  in  about  ten  minutes,  while  skirting 
the  shore,  my  eyes  rested  on  a  magnificent  stag,  who 
came  at  a  sharp  trot  towards  the  light.  I  halted  at  once, 
aimed  at  the  animal's  chest,  and  waited. 

He  still  advanced ;  when  he  was  within  twenty  paces 
I  pulled  the  trigger  of  my  rifle.  Bang  !  The  beast 
bounded  as  if  the  ground  had  exploded  under  his  feet ; 
then  he  fell  heavily  to  the  earth  ;  he  had  ceased  to  live. 

"  Bravo  !  bravo  !  bravo  ! "  cried  Mr.  Eustace,  Pat,  and 
David  simultaneously,  as  they  came  to  my  assistance, 
raised  the  beast,  and  transported  it  to  the  boat. 

^^  It  is  my  turn  now,"  said  my  host ;  "  may  I  have  as 
good  luck  as  you  have  had  !" 

His  wish  was  speedily  realized.  The  moon  thought 
fit  to  veil  her  serene  face  in  presence  of  the  slaughter 
which  had  been  committed  before  her.  The  most  com- 
plete obscurity  again  prevailed  around  us,  and  we  advanced 
stealthily  beneath  the  tufted  branches  of  the  green  forest 
trees. 

'^  Look  yonder  ! "  my  comrade  suddenly  murmured  in 
my  ear.  "  Let  me  fire  if  there  is  only  a  single  beast ;  but 
if  there  are  two,  or  a  herd,  we  will  aim  together — you  on 
the  right,  I  on  the  left." 

I  made  a  sign  of  assent,  and  we  continued  to  glide 
through  the  wood. 

Mr.  Eustace  was  right.  The  deer  were  seven  in  num- 
ber, and  all  of  them,  male  and  female,  old  and  young, 
with  ears  erect,  eyes  shining,  and  attention  on  the  alert, 
advanced  towards  us,  curious  to  know  the  meaning  of  the 
light  at  such  an  unusual  hour. 

My  host  halted ;  I  did  the  same ;  and  we  shouldered 
our  carbines  simultaneously. 


THE  CHASE  AT  NIGHT. 


217 


"  TAKE   GOOD   AIM,  AND    FIRE   STRAIGHT.*' 


On  my  right  I  saw  an  enormous  hitcTc,  walking  side  by- 
side  with  a  female  deer — his  mate,  no  doubt — and  moving 
forward  to  his  destruction  without  knowing  it.     Accord- 


218  THE  hunter's  trophy. 

ing  to  our  agreement,  Mr.  Eustace  aimed  at  the  female; 
and  when,  on  a  signal  from  him,  I  perceived  that  he  was 
going  to  fire,  I  pressed  the  trigger,  and  bang  !  The  two 
reports  were  blended  into  one. 

Mr.  Eustace  had  killed  his  animal ;  but  I — how,  I 
know  not — had  only  shattered  the  shoulder  of  my  stag, 
who  took  to  flight  with  the  rest  of  the  troop,  and  disap- 
peared in  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

I  felt  certain  that  I  had  severely  wounded  my  stag,  but 
it  was  impossible  to  pursue  him.  Pat  undertook  to  do 
so  on  the  morrow,  and  we  prepared  to  return  to  our 
homes.  It  was  half-past  eleven  when,  in  front  of  Patrick 
O'Donoghue's  tavern,  we  embarked  our  booty,  whose 
weight  was  such  that  our  boat  rose  scarcely  a  hand's 
breadth  out  of  the  water.  We  only  just  escaped  swamp- 
ing. 

The  moon  reappeared  to  facilitate  our  navigation ;  and 
when  we  pulled  up  before  the  landing-place  of  Crow's 
Nest,  two  friendly  voices  replied  to  our  summons,  and 
my  young  friend  James,  who  had  obstinately  refused  to 
go  to  bed  before  our  return,  clapped  his  hands  with  joy 
as  David  and  the  other  servants  drew  the  stags  from  the 
boat. 

Next  evening,  Pat  surprised  us  just  as  we  had  seated 
ourselves  at  the  tea-table.  After  a  diligent  search,  he 
had  discovered  the  stag  which  I  had  wounded  the  day 
before,  but  it  was  half  devoured  by  the  cayeutes.  He 
brought  back  only  the  antlers,  an  unparalleled  trophy 
vfhich  still  adorns  my  little  study. 

I  shall  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  curious  anecdote. 
The   stag  of  the  United  States  is  capable  of  being 


A  CURIOUS  ANECDOTE.  219 

trained,  and  as  an  instance  I  will  cite  the  following  fact, 
which,  if  need  were,  could  be  corroborated  by  numerous 
witnesses. 

During  the  first  week  of  my  residence  at  New  York, 
in  1841,  I  was  much  astonished  one  morning  to  perceive, 
in  the  midst  of  a  company  of  Scotch  militia,  a  magnificent 
stag,  wearing  round  his  neck  a  silver  collar,  whose  mag- 
\nificent  antlers,  elegant  gait,  soft-beaming  eyes,  and 
slender  legs,  astonished  all  the  bystanders  into  uinfeigned 
admiration.  He  trotted  behind  the  band,  and  in  front  of 
the  officers;  and  neither  the  cries  of  the  children,  nor  the 
noise  of  the  carriages,  nor  that  of  the  cymbals  and  brass 
instruments,  produced  any  effect  upon  the  animal,  though 
by  nature  he  is  timid  and  easily  startled.  It  is  unne- 
cessary to  say  that  I  became  desirous  of  knowing  how  the 
stag  in  question  had  been  snatched  from  his  forests  to 
parade  himself  in  the  midst  of  a  large  town,  and  tread 
macadamized  stones  instead  of  pawing  the  turf  of  the 
distant  forests.  I  made  inquiries  likewise  of  a  New- 
foundland dog,  who  appeared  to  be  on  the  best  under- 
standing with  the  stag,  as  well  as  with  the  Scotch,  and 
this  is  what  I  learned  from  an  officer  of  the  third  brigade 
of  New  York  :-^ 

The  Highland  Company,  following  a  custom  of  the 
mother-country,  had  adopted  the  stag  as  emblematical  of 
the  agility  a  Scotchman  ought  to  display  in  ascending 
mountains,  and  climbing  precipices,  and  leaping  over 
chasms.  As  for  the  dog,  he  was  their  symbol  of 
fidelity ;  and  fidelity,  as  everybody  knows,  is  one  of 
the  primitive  qualities  of  all  Sir  Walter  Scott's  com- 
patriots. It  should  here  be  added  that  during  the  War 
of  Independence  the  Highlanders  of  Washington  gave 


220  A  SCOTCH  CLAYMORE. 

the  American  hero  unparalleled  proofs  of  their  courage 
and  devotion.  And  the  legislator  recompensed  this  corps 
cCelite  by  granting  them  certain  chartered  privileges, 
which  they  enjoyed  from  1781. 

At  the  battle  of  Yorktown,  when  General  Cornwallis, 
hemmed  in  on  the  one  side  by  Washington  and  his 
Americans,  and  on  the  other  by  the  French  fleet,  under 
the  Comte  de  Grasse,  was  compelled  to  capitulate  with 
his  army  of  seven  thousand  men,  the  captain  of  the 
Highlanders  in  the  third  brigade,  John  Davidson,  was 
ordered  by  the  conqueror  to  receive  the  sword  of  the 
conquered.  Cornwallis,  enchanted  with  the  courtesy  of 
his  fortunate  enemy,  begged  him  to  accept  as  a  mark  of 
his  esteem  a  Scotch  claymore,  long  an  heirloom  in  his 
family,  which  had  once  belonged  to  the  clan  of  Mac- 
Fergus.  The  relic  was  presented  by  Davidson  to  his 
company,  and  this  identical  claymore  is  borne  by  the  pre- 
sent captain  of  the  New  York  Highlanders. 

As  for  the  stag  and  dog,  which  won  my  admiration  and 
excited  my  interest  in  1841,  their  history  is  quickly  told. 

The  former  had  been  brought  from  Virginia  to  New 
York  by  my  friend,  "William  Porter.  In  1836,  the  fawn, 
deprived  of  his  mother,  who  had  been  killed  in  the  chase, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Porter,  and  he,  with  characteristic 
generosity,  had  carried  him  to  the  rendezvous  of  the 
hunters,  and  thence  to  his  host^s  plantation,  and  after- 
wards to  New  York. 

On  the  evening  of  his  arrival  in  the  great  western  city, 
he  had  sent  the  gentle  animal  to  the  regimental  mess  of 
the  Highlanders  with  his  compliments.     At  first  the  good 


THE  HIGHLANDERS'  STAG.  22 1 

Scotchmen  did  not  comprehend  the  vahie  and  opportTine- 
ness  of  the  present ;  then  one  of  them  suggested  the  idea 
of  entrusting  the  animal  to  the  musicians  of  the  company, 
who  undertook  his  education.  The  music  for  awhile 
seemed  to  frighten  the  timid  quadruped;  but  he  gradually 
grew  accustomed  to  it,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months  was 
as  tame  and  familiar  as  a  King  Charles's  dog.  Every 
morning  he  might  be  seen  to  leave  the  hut  which  had  been 
erected  for  him  in  the  courtyard  of  the  barracks,  ascend 
the  staircase,  and  knock  at  each  door  of  the  musicians' 
gallery  to  get  a  piece  of  biscuit.  From  some  strange  caprice 
he  would  never  touch  a  bit  which  had  been  touched  by 
human  teeth.  Frequent  attempts  were  made  to  deceive 
him,  but  in  vain ;  he  always  discovered  the  stratagem. 

When  I  for  the  first  time  made  this  interesting  animal's 
acquaintance,  three  years  had  elapsed  since  he  had  made 
his  dehut  in  public,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  ]N"ew  York 
cockneys.  He  had  attained  his  full  development,  and  was 
assuredly  very  handsome,  with  his  head  superbly  erect, 
and  crowned  with  fourteen  antlers.  He  was  a  full-grown 
stag  of  the  most  majestic  bearing ;  only  age  had  rendered 
him  somewhat  irritable  and  capricious,  and  he  was  with 
difficulty  prevented  from  running  full  butt  against  an 
audacious  civilian  who  had  ventured  to  pass  between  him 
and  the  band  when  the  company  was  on  the  march. 

One  day,  in  1844,  during  an  excursion  made  by  the 
third  brigade,  including  the  Highland  Company,  to  Fort 
Hamilton,  the  stag,  profiting  by  the  repose  which  the 
Scotchmen  were  enjoying  in  the  shelter  of  the  ramparts, 
mounted  to  the  summit,  and  began  to  browze  tranquilly 
on   the   grass    growing  in    the  interstices   between   the 


222  QUADRUPEDAL  FRIENDSHIP. 

stones.  A  cat  was  enjoying  a  siesta  in  the  sun ;  catch- 
ing sight  of  the  stranger,  he  was  as  much  terrified  as  a 
squirrel  at  the  apparition  of  a  dog,  and  made  such  a  leap, 
that  the  stag,  not  less  surprised,  unconsciously  imitated 
his  example.  The  poor  animal  endeavoured  to  recover 
himself,  but  a  precipice  yawned  behind  him,  and  he  fell 
back  into  the  inner  courtyard,  breaking  every  limb. 
The  Highlanders  rushed  out  at  the  sound  of  his  fall ;  but 
he  was  dead.  His  head  had  disappeared  in  the  depths  of 
a  great  pit  which  his  antlers  had  excavated.  The  leap 
was  fully  two  hundred  feet,  and  his  fate  was  inevitable. 
Close  beside  his  mangled  body  sat  his  friend,  the  New- 
foundland dog,  barking  terribly,  and  licking  the  lustreless 
eyes  of  his  unfortunate  companion.  It  was  a  truly  pathetic 
spectacle,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  the  living  was 
separated  from  the  dead. 

This  Newfoundland  dog  had  formerly  belonged  to  the 
marines  of  the  American  frigate  Constitution,  His  master 
dined  at  the  Highlanders'  table  on  the  occasion  of  the 
first  appearance  of  the  stag,  for  whom  the  dog  immedi- 
ately formed  so  strong  an  attachment  that  neither  threats, 
caresses,  nor  blows  could  induce  him  to  leave  his  newly- 
discovered  friend.  Under  these  circumstances  his  owner 
could  do  nothing  less  than  offer  the  dog  to  the  High- 
landers, who  gladly  accepted  the  present,  and  brought  up 
in  company  the  two  attached  comrades. 

He  lived  four  years  after  the  death  of  the  stag.  At  an 
inspection  of  the  Highland  Company,  having  bitten  the 
commanding  officer,  he  was  condemned  to  expiate  his 
crime  in  the  usual  manner ;  was  led  to  the  bank  of  the 
Haarlem  river,  bound  to  a  post,  and  formally  shot  by  a 
platoon  of  four  infantry  soldiers. 


CHAPTER  XY. 


THE  ELK. 


AN  AD  A  is  the  country  for  the  devotees  of  the 
chase.  The  uncultivated  wilderness  which 
extends  to  the  north  of  Quebec  and  Montreal 
is  peopled  by  half-civilized  Redskins,  who 
live  on  the  products  of  their  hunting  and  fishing  expedi- 
tions. For  a  European  amateur  of  sport  this  country, 
therefore,  possesses  a  peculiar  attraction,  in  spite  of  its 
ruggedness  and  its  savage  aspect.  I  had  conceived  the 
notion,  during  my  residence  in  the  United  States,  of 
visiting  as  a  hunter  the  great  English  colony;  and  during 
the  Christmas  holidays  of  1844,  I  profited  by  a  few 
weeks'  leisure  to  repair  to  Canada. 

A  friend  of  mine,   a  captain  in  one  of  the   Queen's 


224  A  VISIT  TO  CANADA. 

regiments,  had  warmly  pressed  me  to  accept  of  Lis  hospi- 
tality, and  I  now  resolved  to  comply  with  his  repeated 
request. 

A  few  days  after  my  arrival  at  Quebec,  Maclean  pro- 
posed that  we  should  make  an  essay  at  elk-hunting. 
I  need  not  say  that  I  required  but  little  pressing,  and  we 
hastened  to  make  the  preparations  indispensable  for  such 
an  expedition. 

The  captain  had  already  made  an  arrangement  with 
some  Indians  of  St.  Anne's,  in  virtue  of  which  four  of  the 
most  skilful  hunters  of  their  tribe  were  to  join  us  at 
sixty  miles  from  Quebec,  at  a  rendezvous  which  they  had 
indicated,  on  the  confines  of  the  inhabited  districts. 
Jack,  the  guide  of  our  caravan,  waited  for  us  at  Loretto 
with  his  companions. 

We  started  one  morning  at  daybreak  in  a  very  low 
carriole,  to  which  were  harnessed,  as  a  tandem,  two  ex- 
cellent, mustangs.  A  sledge,  drawn  by  one  horse,  fol- 
lowed our  vehicle,  and  carried  our  arms,  provisions,  muni- 
tions, and  other  articles  indispensable  for  camping  in  the 
Canadian  desert. 

Enveloped  in  our  buffalo-skin  caps  and  "mackinaw" 
coverings,  we  were  easily  able  to  brave  the  fury  of  the 
wind,  though  it  swept  along  at  a  furious  rate,  while 
whirlwinds  of  hail  and  snow  drifted  in  every  direction. 

The  first  gleams  of  daylight  had  hardly  appeared  when 
we  traversed  the  suburb  of  St.  Yallier, — still  buried  in 
profound  slumber, — whose  solitary  streets  are  as  melan- 
choly as  they  are  narrow,  tortuous,  and  ill-built.  Not  a 
single  inhabitant  was  visible,  and  the  snow,  falling  for 
several  hours  during  the  night,  had  effaced  all  the  marks 
and  imprints  of  the  traffic  of  the  preceding  day. 


A  TIPSY  INDIAN.  225 

The  road  to  Loretto  was  broad  and  well  kept,  aiid^ 
with  the  exception  of  certain  snow-drifts  accumulated  by 
the  wind,  which  we  could  only  pass  with  the  utmost  pre- 
caution, no  accident  threw  a  gloom  over  our  journey. 
We  arrived  at  the  rendezvous  after  an  hour's  journey. 
Jack  awaited  us,  fully  equipped,  and  ready  to  set  out. 
He  wanted  nothing,  except  a  little  silver,  which  he 
begged  us  to  give  him,  to  kill,  he  said,  the  devil,  who 
had  taken  possession  of  his  body  and  frozen  him,  with 
fear.  Maclean  was  imprudent  enough  to  believe  in  this 
new  phase  of  diabolic  possession,  and  gave  him  a  few 
shillings,  thanks  to  which  Jack  contrived  to  fuddle  him- 
self in  a  few  minutes  with  two  or  three  bumpers  of  the 
strongest  whisky.  When  we  had  resumed  our  route,  he 
immediately  became  very  garrulous  and  troublesome,  and 
with  his  contortions  and  wild  gestures  threatened  to  cap- 
size the  sledge  in  which  he  was  riding  with  us. 

At  each  relay  the  intemperate  Indian  made  a  new 
demand  for  funds,  which  we  quietly  refused ;  so,  when  he 
saw  that  our  resolve  was  taken,  he  begged  us  to  advance 
a  portion  of  his  salary,  swearing  on  his  honour  that  he 
would  not  abandon  us,  and  giving  us  to  understand  that 
he  thought  us  persons  of  a  very  disobliging  disposition. 
To  be  brief:  in  spite  of  all  our  precautions.  Jack  con- 
trived to  make  himself  so  tipsy  before  noon,  that  we  had 
to  threaten  to  leave  him  on  the  road.  This  menace, 
uttered  by  Maclean  with  a  very  serious  air,  produced  a 
favourable  impression,  so  far,  at  least,  as  our  tranquillity 
was  concerned ;  for,  after  a  few  minutes'  reflection.  Jack 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  best  thing  he  could  do 
was  to  lie  down  and  sleep  at  the  bottom  of  the  sledge ; 
and  once  there,  he  slept  until  evening.     It  is  a  curious 

(414)  15 


226  A  CANADIAN  SNOW-SCENE. 

fact  relative  to  the  Indians  of  Canada,  that  from  the 
moment  these  poor  wretches  have  tasted  the  "  fire-water," 
they  lose  all  sense  of  honour,  duty,  self-respect,  and  would 
willingly  give  to  procure  it  everything  which  they  possess 
in  the  world — even  their  life  !  It  is  true  that  at  most 
times  this  is  worth  but  little. 

On  either  side  of  the  route  which  we  were  traversing, 
the  country  was  cleared  to  a  certain  distance ;  but  be- 
yond nothing  was  visible  but  woodlands  and  uncultivated 
steppes, — a  complete  solitude.  We  had  to  cross  numerous 
half-frozen  brooks  ;  the  swirling  waters  with  difficulty 
forced  a  passage  through  the  midst  of  masses  of  ice  whose 
protuberances  were  so  many  obstacles,  and  over  which 
they  leaped  in  foamy  cascades.  The  icy  shroud,  all  re- 
splendently  white,  defined  each  outline  of  the  soil,  and 
brought  out  into  startling  relief  the  sombre  contours  and 
shadowy  profundities  of  the  forests  of  cedar  and  fir  which 
bordered  the  road. 

The  storm  had  not  ceased  to  rage,  and  the  snow  fell 
incessantly  in  great  flakes,  burying  the  communications 
under  a  layer  which  visibly  grew  thicker.  From  time  to 
time  we  met  with  sledges  loaded  with  wood  or  bags  of 
grain ;  but,  as  the  way  was  too  narrow  for  a  chasse- 
croise  to  be  easily  accomplished,  the  driver  ranged  his 
horses  on  the  extreme  edge,  leaving  the  sledge  to  sink  in 
the  snow,  and  maintaining  it  in  a  horizontal  position  by 
leaning  on  it  with  all  his  might.  Our  coachman  whipped 
up  his  cattle  and  swept  by,  not  without  considerable  dif- 
ficulty. In  one  of  these  rencontres  our  sledge  caught  in 
that  of  a  farmer,  and,  as  it  was  the  lighter,  was  precipi- 
tated, with  all  it  contained,  into  a  ditch  five  feet  deep  in 
snow.     We   escaped   with   a    few   contusions    and  some 


^^  KING  George's  hotel."  227 

broken  traces,  accompanied  by  volleys  of  oaths  and  blas- 
phemies from  our  wild  conductors.  Rolled  up  in  our 
mantles,  and  encased  in  our  thick  furs,  we  had  abandoned 
ourselves  uncomplainingly  to  the  rotatory  movement,  stir- 
ring no  more  than  the  sacks  of  corn  which  loaded  the  other 
sledge.  Our  Homeric  laughter  was  in  impressive  contrast 
to  the  fiery  indignation  of  the  two  Canadian  Phaethons. 

At  nightfall  we  reached  a  miserable  hamlet,  situated 
on  the  bank  of  a  small  lake,  about  twelve  miles  from  the 
place  where  the  elands  pastured.  The  timber  hut,  which 
rejoiced  in  the  proud  title  of  "  King  George's  Hotel,"  was 
a  miserable  asylum,  much  better  adapted  for  the  reception 
of  carters  than  of  gentlemen.  It  was  divided  into  two 
compartments,  one  called  the  "bar-room,"  and  the  other 
serving  as  the  sleeping-room  of  the  family  of  the  landlord, 
an  Englishman  of  good  breeding,  who,  as  I  afterwards 
learned,  had  been  formerly  in  a  much  better  position. 
His  only  amusement  in  his  exile  was  to  receive  at  intervals 
a  number  of  the  "  Quebec  Journal,"  in  whose  pages  he 
read  the  news  of  his  native  land.  It  is  a  peculiarity 
worthy  of  notice,  that  this  honest  innkeeper  experienced 
an  indescribable  pride  in  showing  us,  through  the  frozen 
panes  of  his  parlour  casement,  a  few  hundred  roods  of 
cleared  ground,  on  which  were  built  eleven  or  twelve  rude 
huts,  christened  by  the  name  of  Royal  Village.  Twelve 
years  ago,  said  he,  my  colony  did  not  exist. 

It  was  dark  night  when  we  quitted  King  George's 
Hotel,  and  the  darkness  added  greatly  to  the  diihculties 
of  the  road.  Fortunately,  Maclean  and  I  were  of  a  happy 
temperament,  and,  as  our  journey  was  a  pleasure-expedi- 
tion, we  wisely  resolved  to  laugh  at  everything,  even  at 
the  embarrassments  which  beset  our  every  step. 


228  A  SLEDGE  JOURNEY. 

The  road,  or  rather  the  path,  which  our  horses  trod,  ran 
along  the  side  of  a  steep  mountain,  and  descended  in  zig- 
zags to  the  bank  of  the  St.  Anne  river. 

On  our  right  rose  a  precipitous  rock,  crowned  by  a 
forest  of  firs  :  their  branches  glittered  with  crystals  of  ice, 
which  clanked  like  lustres  against  one  another,  and  pro- 
duced a  most  fantastic  effect.  On  the  left  yawned  beneath 
our  feet  a  gulf,  a  deep  crevasse, — bristling  with  trees  and 
paved  with  ice, — whose  depth  the  eye  could  not  fathom. 
Suddenly,  at  the  most  dangerous  point  of  this  dangerous 
passage,  the  horse  harnessed  to  the  carriage  slipped  be- 
tween the  shafts ;  while  the  other  Bucephalus,  alarmed  at 
this  unforeseen  fall,  made  a  violent  start,  and  disappeared 
in  the  shadows  of  the  crevasse,  or,  rather,  in  the  midst 
of  the  branches  of  an  enormous  cedar,  placed  most  oppor- 
tunely on  the  brink  of  the  abyss  to  arrest  his  headlong 
descent. 

Our  sledge,  our  driver,  and  ourselves,  enveloped  as  we 
were  in  thick  furs,  resembled  the  famous  statue  of  the 
Laocoon ;  the  serpents  being  represented  by  the  traces, 
guiding  reins,  and  other  portions  of  the  harness,  in  which 
we  were  entangled  as  in  a  net.  On  the  other  side,  the 
horse  suspended  above  the  chasm  kicked,  and  struggled, 
and  shattered  the  sledge.  We  were  in  great  alarm  lest, 
as  soon  as  the  support  on  which  he  rested  gave  way,  he 
should  bring  on  a  catastrophe.  I  must  confess  that  neither 
the  captain  nor  myself  now  felt  inclined  to  laugh,  and  we 
hastened  to  think  of  some  means  of  extricating  oiTrselves 
from  so  imminent  a  danger. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  get  clear  of  the  sledge  ; 
a  task  we  accomplished  without  much  difficulty.  Next 
we  endeavoured  to  rescue  the  animal  which  was  hanging 


A  DELIGHTFUL  VISION.  229 

above  the  precipice,  and  lost  in  the  darkness.  With  the 
assistance  of  Jack  and  the  two  drivers,  and  after  many 
smart  blows  of  the  whip,  accompanied,  as  is  usual  among 
the  Canadians,  by  a  volley  of  very  energetic  oaths,  we  suc- 
ceeded in  restoring  the  horse  to  his  companion's  side,  on 
the  perilous  path  of  which  I  have  already  spoken. 

I  do  not  see  any  utility  in  relating  in  detail  all  the 
circumstances  of  this  accident ;  I  confine  myself  to  stating, 
en  passant  J  that  once  reinstalled  on  the  hardened  soil,  the 
quadruped  grew  calm  as  if  by  enchantment,  and  ceased 
to  kick ;  fortunately  for  us,  who  had  not  too  wide  a  space 
in  which  to  avoid  his  attacks.  For  the  rest,  he  was  too 
fatigued  to  indulge  in  any  gambols,  and  the  poor  animal, 
though  led  by  the  bit,  fell  upwards  of  a  dozen  times  before 
reaching  the  end  of  his  journey. 

We  advanced  very  cautiously,  for  the  darkness  appeared 
to  grow  thicker  and  thicker,  and  we  were  much  afraid  of 
straying  from  one  another ;  the  more  so  that  our  guide, 
half  sobered,  appeared  to  entertain  the  same  apprehension. 
At  the  moment  when  we  least  expected  it,  Jack  began  to 
shout  with  the  voice  of  a  Stentor,  and  to  our  great  joy, 
after  about  ten  minutes'  exercise  worthy  of  a  Saxe  ophi- 
cleide,  we  perceived  a  few  yards  in  front  of  us,  illumi- 
nated as  if  by  magic,  the  windows  of  a  habitation  which 
Jack  announced  to  be  our  halting-place. 

This  unhoped-for  vision  reanimated  our  courage,  and 
that  I  might  reach  it  the  sooner,  so  as  to  share  in  the 
geniality  of  a  blazing  fire  whose  gleams  seemed  to  brighten 
up  the  whole  interior  of  the  house,  I  sprang  from  the 
sledge.  But,  at  the  very  first  step,  I  sank  in  the  snow 
up  to  my  neck,  and,  to  my  gre^t  terror,  saw  engulfed  by 
my  side  the  horse  who  had  already  done  me  so  much  in- 


230  A  HOME  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

jury.  The  harassed  animal  undoubtedly  thought  me  in 
the  right  road,  and  relied  on  reaching  its  stable  much 
more  quickly  by  following  me.  Nevertheless,  we  were 
both  compelled  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Indians  from 
the  neighbouring  house,  who,  provided  with  torches, 
came  at  length  to  rescue  us  from  the  tortures  of  a  cold 
so  excessive  that  it  seemed  to  freeze  the  very  marrow  of 
our  bones. 

The  owner  of  the  house  was  named  Joassin,  and  his 
mansion  could  not  well  have  passed  for  a  palace.  We 
soon  discovered,  too,  that  it  gained  nothing  by  being 
better  known.  We  entered  into  a  large  hall,  about  thirty 
feet  square,  furnished  with  a  couple  of  beds  placed  in  the 
farthest  corner,  with  six  unfinished  chairs,  and  a  rocking 
arm-chair  or  fauteuil.  In  the  centre  stood  a  red-hot  iron 
stove,  choked  with  logs  of  wood ;  so  that  the  atmosphere 
around  us  was  almost  suffocating. 

We  found  in  readiness  to  receive  us,  and  gathered  close 
around  the  stove,  the  owner  of  the  house,  his  wife,  three 
tall,  lean,  and  ugly  daughters,  three  sons  whom  Nature 
had  favoured  as  little  as  their  sisters,  the  ^ve  Indians 
who  had  extricated  me  from  my  bed  of  snow,  and  half-a- 
dozen  dogs. 

While  the  men,  with  pipes  in  their  mouths,  filled  the 
interior  of  the  hall  with  a  dense  cloud  of  tobacco  smoke, 
the  women  were  preparing  on  the  top  of  the  stove,  in  a 
dirty  earthen  pan,  a  tasteless  ragout,  and  a  soup  of  much 
too  Lacedemonian  a  character,  judging  by  its  colour, 
which  gave  forth  pungent  odours  of  onions  and  garlic, 
enough  to  have  turned  the  stomach  of  the  least  fastidious 
Provengal. 

Naturally,  all  those  who  smoked  spat  all  around  them  : 


UNWELCOME  BED-FELLOWS.  231 

as  the  floor  consequently  was  not  of  the  cleanest,  the  place 
did  not  appear  well  adapted  for  making  our  beds  upon  it. 
Before  lying  down  to  rest,  we  attempted  to  Sup  by  the 
aid  of  a  light  collation  of  tea  and  cakes  borrowed  from 
our  travelling  stores.  We  afterwards  sought,  in  the  midst 
of  this  unclean  cloaca,  two  isolated  corners,  where  we 
might  spread  our  bison-skins,  and  finish  up  the  night  for 
good  or  evil. 

The  dogs  followed  our  example  ;  and  as  the  warmth 
of  our  thick  furs  seemed  to  them  preferable  to  the  damp 
ground,  they  gradually  crept  in  close  to  our  sides,  and,  in 
spite  of  the  kicks  with  which  they  were  greeted,  in  spite 
of  the  threats  which  we  hurled  at  them,  they  kept  their 
positions  without  listening  to  or  heeding  our  abuse — the 
just  reward  of  an  obstinate  perseverance.  For  my  part, 
I  had  an  enormous  bed-fellow,  with  a  thick  shaggy  skin, 
not  unlike  in  figure  and  jaws  the  wolves  of  the  wooded 
districts  of  France. 

To  increase  my  felicity,  I  had  placed  my  couch  at  the 
foot  of  a  country  clock,  recently  repaired,  whose  pendulum 
marked  the  flight  of  time  in  the  most  irritating  manner. 
This  deafening  metronome,  the  nauseating  odour  which 
arose  in  every  direction,  and  the  suffocating  heat  of  the 
rarefied  air,  kept  me  long  awake.  At  last,  however,  I  fell 
asleep,  and  I  dreamed  an  atrocious  dream,  which  repre- 
sented to  my  abused  senses  the  chamber  peopled  with 
clocks,  all  smoking  and  expectorating  violently,  while  a 
Redskin  of  herculean  stature  marked  the  seconds  on  a 
colossal  bell ! 

Captain  Maclean,  less  nice  than  myself,  slept  like  a  true 
soldier,  and  was  neither  to  be  aroused  by  the  deafening 
sounds  nor  the  unwholesome  atmosphere. 


232  THE  HURON  INDIANS. 

As  soon  as  the  first  beams  of  day  appeared,  everybody 
was  on  foot ;  and  after  we  had  concluded  our  morning 
meal,  which  resembled  the  evening  repast,  the  Indians 
hastened  to  deposit  our  kettles  and  travelling  effects  in 
their  tobogins. 

The  tobogin  of  the  Canadians  is  a  small  sledge  built  up 
of  a  few  planks  as  thin  as  the  bark  of  trees,  and  shaped 
in  front  like  a  ship's  bow.  These  terrestrial  "  tenders  "  are 
moderately  loaded,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  a  leather 
strap  passed  over  the  shoulder,  the  Canadians  drag  the 
vehicle  and  its  contents  over  the  hardened  snow  without 
any  very  great  exertion. 

These  preparations  completed,  we  set  out,  accompanied 
by  the  five  Indians  and  their  pack  of  dogs.  The  Ked- 
skins  who  acted  as  our  huntsmen  belonged  to  the  Huron 
tribe,  and  were  a  part  of  its  unfortunate  remains  nowa- 
days inhabiting  the  village  of  Loretto ;  the  said  village 
consisting  of  a  hundred  huts  clustering  round  a  wooden 
church.  During  the  winter,  the  Hurons  live  on  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  chase,  and  the  money  they  receive  for  the 
assistance  they  render  to  the  farmer  and  the  traveller;  an 
assistance  for  which  they  make  the  whites  pay  dearly, 
who,  unfortunately,  are  compelled  to  have  recourse  to 
them.  In  the  summer-time,  they  cultivate  their  fields, 
and  manufacture  clothing  and  fishing  apparatus,  as  well 
as  those  glass-beaded  mocassins,  bags,  and  head-dresses 
which  are  sold  everywhere  in  the  Northern  and  Southern 
States. 

To  speak  the  truth,  they  are  degenerate  savages,  whose 
race,  nowadays,  is  embruted  and  servile,  and  manifests, 
especially,  an  irresistible  partiality  for  the  most  horrible 
un cleanness  imaginable.     And  besides,  little  genuine  In- 


THE  HURON  INDIANS.  233 

diati  blood  flows  in  their  veins,  for  their  contact  with  the 
Canadians  and  Europeans  has  contributed  to  inoculate 
the  European  blood  in  place  of  that  of  their  ancestors. 
Of  this  fact  you  may  convince  yourself  by  a  glance  at 
their  faces,  whose  sun-burn  does  not  prevent  you  from 
detecting  the  mongrel  complexion  which  has  taken  the 
place  of  that  of  the  original  Hurons.  Nay,  more  :  their 
physiognomy  has  assumed  an  expression,  as  it  were,  of 
astuteness  and  falsehood  which  was  no  characteristic  of 
the  race  from  whom  they  have  sprung.  Their  clothing 
consists  of  a  wrapper  tied  round  the  waist  by  a  coloured 
girdle,  of  woollen  gaiters  rolled  round  their  legs,  mocassins 
of  deer-skin,  and  a  woollen  bonnet  dyed  red  or  blue.  In 
winter,  as  well  as  in  summer,  such  is  the  costume  of  the 
Hurons. 

Their  special  accomplishment  consists  in  traversing  im- 
mense distances  by  means  of  those  rackets,  or  snow-shoes, 
so  much  in  vogue  in  Canada. 

Our  coverings,  our  cloaks,  and  the  bison-skins  which 
served  us  both  for  mattresses  and  travelling  cloaks,  formed 
a  very  heavy  luggage  ;  so  we  thought  it  best  to  place  it  in 
the  custody  of  three  of  our  Indians,  who  might  march  at 
their  ease,  and  rejoin  us  a  little  further  on.  We  donned 
our  rackets,  and,  guided  by  the  other  Indians,  moved 
forward  in  advance.  Though  thinly  clad,  the  violent 
exercise  in  which  we  were  engaged  made  us  perspire  as 
much  as  if  we  had  been  in  the  midst  of  the  dog-days. 

It  was  a  glorious  morning,  and  the  sun  shone  with  un- 
equalled brilliancy ;  sometimes,  however,  a  little  subdued 
by  the  reverberation  of  the  whitened  soil  which  paled  its 
rays.  The  gale  of  the  preceding  day  had  rippled  the 
snow  into  light  waves,   and  this   silvery  sand  crackled 


234  THE  CEDAR  FOREST. 

crisply  as  we  trod  it  beneath  our  feet.  It  was  the  only 
sound  we  could  hear ;  for  nature  was  hushed  in  an  im- 
pressive tranquillity.  Not  a  cloud  obscured  the  horizon  ; 
the  wind  had  completely  subsided,  and  the  pine  branches, 
covered  with  thick  snow,  remained  as  motionless  as  a 
theatrical  decoration.  Spite  of  the  intensity  of  the  cold, 
we  experienced  no  disagreeable  sensations ;  the  air  sur- 
rounding us  was  pure  and  light  as  that  which  one  breathes 
on  the  mountain -tops. 

Every  trace  of  the  path  had  disappeared  under  the 
snow;  but  the  Indians,  our  guides,  recognized  the  road 
by  the  trees  and  the  variations  of  the  soil.  They  con- 
ducted us  in  the  first  place  to  the  foot  of  an  ancient  cedar, 
flourishing  on  the  border  of  a  wood,  above  whose  green 
tops  it  rose  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 

Before  us  extended  the  wilderness,  wild  and  gloomy, 
which  prevails  to  the  extreme  limits  of  the  Arctic  Pole ; 
and  it  was  not  without  a  certain  emotion  that  we  pene- 
trated into  this  venerable  forest  of  great  cedars  scattered  at 
wide  intervals,  under  whose  sweeping  branches  we  made 
our  way  with  all  the  skill  we  could  command. 

At  length  we  reached  the  base  of  a  hill,  and  halted  to 
take  breath.  Our  Indians  prepared  the  spot  by  beating 
down  the  snow  until  it  was  thoroughly  hard ;  then  they 
heaped  up  some  branches  to  serve  for  seats,  and  went  in 
quest  of  a  spring,  which  they  found  close  at  hand,  bubbling 
with  a  fresh  and  deliciously  transparent  water.  Thanks 
to  the  silence,  we  could  easily  distinguish  the  murmur  of 
the  brook,  which  flowed  slowly  under  the  snow,  only  re- 
vealing itself  to  the  eye  here  and  there,  when  some  obstacle 
in  the  soil  had  caused  the  snow  to  crumble,  and  the 
water-course  to  descend  the  slope  in  a  microscopic  cascade. 


A  HOUSE  OF  SNOW.  235 

Towards  noon,  after  a  hearty  breakfast,  we  resumed 
our  route,  and  having  made  our  way  for  three  hours  and 
a  half  over  a  difficult  country,  we  found  in  front  of  us  a 
small  river,  on  whose  bank  we  determined  to  encamp  for 
the  night.  This  was  undoubtedly  the  best  decision  we 
could  arrive  at,  for  Maclean  and  myself  were  thoroughly 
worn  out,  neither  of  us  being  accustomed  to  a  snow-shoe 
journey  of  this  kind,  nor  to  the  speed  at  which  we  were 
forced  to  travel  to  keep  up  with  our  guides. 

The  Indians  set  to  work  to  construct  a  cabin  for  our 
shelter  during  the  night.  Fir'st,  they  took  off  their  shoes, 
and  making  use  of  them  for  shovels,  they  hollowed  out  the 
snow  so  as  to  form  a  circular  chamber,  about  twenty  feet 
in  diameter,  whose  walls  were  built  of  snow,  hardened  by 
the  hands  and  feet.  Afterwards  they  cut  down  a  few 
young  firs,  which  they  propped  up  against  one  another  in 
the  shape  of  a  tent,  and  these  they  covered  with  inter- 
twined branches  and  boughs,  and,  finally,  with  large 
pieces  of  the  bark  of  the  birch,  which  in  the  Canadian 
forests  is  as  thick  as  a  bulFs  hide.  An  opening  for  a 
doorway  was  left  on  one  side  of  this  curiously  constructed 
hutj  another,  in  the  roof,  served  as  a  chimney.  Two 
enormous  logs  of  green  wood  represented  the  fireplace, 
and  on  these  were  spread  the  twigs  and  loose  branches  to 
which  they  set  light.  Against  the  walls  our  Indians  ar- 
ranged two  rows  of  pillows,  fashioned  out  of  the  indurated 
snow,  in  such  a  manner  that  our  feet  might  come  within 
the  beneficial  influence  of  the  fire.  The  dry  boughs  on 
which  we  extended  our  furs  made  us  a  tolerably  soft 
couch,  while  our  coverlets  preserved  us  froih  the  cold. 

As  soon  as  all  these  preparations  were  completed, 
Maclean,  the  Indians    and  myself   made  for  the   river- 


236  AN  IMPROMPTU  SUPPER. 

bank  to  procure  our  supper.  With  a  hatchet  our  Hurons 
dug  two  large  holes  in  the  ice.  The  admission  of  the 
fresh  air  had  probably  the  effect  of  giving  the  trouts  an 
unreflecting  appetite  j  for  scarcely  had  we  dropped  our 
lines  into  the  water  before  one  of  those  which  were 
swarming  to  the  surface  seized  upon  the  bait,  and  im- 
mediately found  itself  gently  transported  into  a  basket, 
lined  with  moss,  which  one  of  our  Indians  had  placed 
close  at  hand.  The  existence  of  the  poor  fishes  which 
were  thus  secured  was  not  prolonged  beyond  a  few 
minutes.  After  five  or  six  blows  of  the  tail,  and  as 
many  flutterings,  their  body  stifiened,  and  a  thin  coat  of 
ice  covered  their  scales.  So  that  when  we  returned  to 
our  hut,  and  drew  our  trout  from  the  basket,  you  would 
have  supposed  them  to  be  fish  which  had  been  salted  and 
barrelled  for  years. 

While  the  captain  and  I  were  so  successfully  angling 
in  the  river,  the  Redskins  had  felled  as  much  fuel  as 
would  be  required  for  our  fire ;  and  we  found  that  they 
had  piled  up  the  logs,  all  split  and  cut  of  the  same  size, 
at  one  side  of  the  door  of  our  hut.  Over  the  fire,  sus- 
pended from  the  roof  by  a  cord  woven  out  of  flexible 
lianas,  boiled  a  great  iron  pot,  filled  to  the  very  brim 
with  salt  pork,  pease,  and  biscuit.  Beneath,  on  a  bed  of 
ashes,  simmered  the  tea-kettle,  whose  refreshing  emana- 
tions reached  us  in  intermittent  jets. 

The  interior  of  the  hut  was  thoroughly  warmed,  and, 
thanks  to  our  mantles  stretched  along  the  sides,  we  were 
safe  from  all  attacks  of  the  icy  temperature  which  reigned 
without.  Our  Indians  had  manufactured  some  torches 
of  strips  of  birchen  bark  rolled  round  and  round,  and  in- 


A  SERIOUS  DISAPPOINTMENT.  237 

serted  between  the  clefts  of  two  sticks  fastened  into  one 
of  the  walls  of  snow ;  and  this  dubious  gleam  of  light  gave 
a  picturesque  and  not  uncomfortable  aspect  to  our  situa- 
tion. 

A  large  leather  bag  was  converted  into  a  strong-box, 
in  which,  that  the  cupidity  of  our  guides  might  not  be 
excited,  we  deposited  our  money,  our  watches,  and  our 
supply  of  brandy. 

Our  supper  consisted  principally  of  fish  :  the  trouts 
were  delicious ;  and  they  appeared  to  us  all  the  more 
savoury  because  we  were  unable  to  appreciate  the  primi- 
tive compound  of  the  Redskins.  We  wished  afterwards 
to  turn  our  attention  in  due  succession  to  a  roast  joint, 
or  rather  to  one  of  the  dishes  borrowed  from  the  bills  of 
fare  of  civilization,  with  which  we  had  provided  ourselves 
for  our  journey. 

We  therefore  ordered  Jack  to  open  one  of  the  tins  of 
preserved  meat,  which  were  lodged  in  a  bag  on  one  of  the 
sledges.  He  acquitted  his  task  with  due  fidelity;  but 
scarcely  had  he  placed  the  tin  beneath  our  nostrils  than 
each  of  us  experienced  an  irresistible  nausea.  The 
truffle-stuffed  pheasant  was  so  thoroughly  corrupted,  that 
he  might  have  walked  alone  if  he  had  dared.  We  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  a  second  tin ;  it  was  a  partridge  pate  : 
it  spread  around  us  a  most  deleterious  odour.  Such 
was  the  case  with  all  the  rest  of  the  four-and-twenty 
boxes,  which  were  successively  opened  before  us  :  green 
peas,  green  haricots,  cauliflowers,  soup,  julienne,  con- 
somme, milk,  and  cream  ;  all  was  so  putrefied  as  to  be  un- 
fit even  for  dogs.  Our  Indians  made  haste  to  throw  the 
whole  into  a  ravine  situated  beyond  gunshot,  that  the 
evening  breeze  might  not  bring  us  the  emanations   of 


238  THE  INDIANS  AND  THEIR  DOGS. 

these  delicacies,  and  so  renew  our  regrets  at  being  deprived 
of  them.  After  all,  this  was  a  just  punishment  of  the 
gluttony  on  whose  altar  we  had  cowardly  sacrificed,  instead 
of  conforming  to  the  sobriety  of  the  camel  of  the  desert. 

Before  giving  themselves  up  to  repose,  all  our  Indians 
threw  themselves  on  their  knees,  and,  with  rosary  in  hand, 
recited  in  a  low  voice  a  long  Latin  prayer,  of  which  you 
may  be  sure  they  did  not  understand  a  word,  though  it 
seemed  very  familiar  to  them.  I  confess  I  was  utterly 
unable  to  make  out  whether  it  was  a  ijciter  or  an  ave^  a 
litany  or  a  psalm. 

While  they  were  thus  praying,  an  accident  occurred, 
which  greatly  diverted  Maclean  and  myself.  The  dogs 
brought  with  us  for  hunting  purposes  had  been  relegated 
by  the  Indians  to  the  exterior  of  our  temporary  asylum. 
With  the  view  of  rendering  them  hardier,  and  more  eager 
in  the  chase,  they  had  been  kept  without  food,  and  pre- 
vented from  even  appi'oaching  the  fire.  The  poor  beasts 
prowled  around  our  hut  of  snow,  and  we  saw  each  of 
them  in  turn  insinuate  his  muzzle  through  the  doorway, 
and  cast  envious  glances  at  their  masters,  so  warmly  in- 
stalled before  a  blazing  fire. 

At  the  moment  the  Indians  began  their  'paternosters, 
the  hounds  profited  by  the  general  inattention  to  glide  in, 
one  after  the  other,  and  crouch  down  before  the  fire. 
Unfortunately,  one  of  them  touched  the  heel  of  the  most 
devout  of  the  Kedskins,  who,  very  much  irritated  at  the 
interruption,  turned  hastily  round  to  see  what  intruder 
liad  disturbed  his  prayers.  Without  laying  aside  his 
pipe,  which  he  had  not  ceased  to  hold  in  his  mouth,  he 
arose,  and  pouring  at  the  animal  a  broadside  of  the  most 
expressive  oaths  in  the  Fi-ench  language,  drove  him  away 


"  now  BEAUTIFUL  IS  NIGHT  !  "  239 

with  an  accompaniment  ot  whipcord  and  kicks.  Then, 
after  havino:  inhaled  a  lono^  whiff  of  tobacco,  the  absurd 
fellow  again  bent  his  knees  and  resumed  his  prayers, 
just  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

About  midnight,  I  woke  with  a  start.  I  dreamed 
that  a  hand  of  iron  grasped  my  shoulders,  and,  when  I 
comprehended  the  reality  of  my  situation,  I  perceived 
that  the  sensation  I  experienced  proceeded  from  the  cold 
which  had  seized  me.  The  fire,  nevertheless,  was  still 
very  great ;  in  fact,  our  shoes  and  cloaks  were  evidently 
roasting  and  smoking.  But  at  a  distance  of  only  three 
feet  from  the  flame  the  brandy  froze  in  our  bottles  !  And 
though  we  were  very  warmly  clad,  and  wrapped  up  in 
thick  furs,  I  humbly  confess  that,  prior  to  this  memorable 
night,  I  had  never  experienced  so  terrible  a  cold. 

I  found  it  impossible  to  get  to  sleep  again.  I  began  to 
think,  and  almost  mechanically  cast  my  eyes  towards  the 
ethereal  vault,  which  glittered  with  unnumbered  fires.  The 
moon's  disc  appeared  to  me  immense, — much  larger  than 
ordinary, — more  luminous  than  ever, — and  the  motion- 
less splendour  of  this  unknown  world  enveloped  the  earth 
in  an  awful  silence.  It  was  to  my  mind  an  irrefutable 
evidence  of  the  Divine  majesty,  which  made  me  tremble. 
Let  me  add,  without  further  dilating  on  a  subject  to  which 
my  pen  is  wholly  inadequate,  that  no  description  can  do 
justice  to  the  brilliancy  of  the  nights  of  Upper  Canada 
during  the  winter  season. 

"  How  beautiful  is  night ! 
In  full-orbed  glory  yonder  moon  divine 
Rolls  through  the  dark-blue  depths. 
Beneath  her  steady  ray 
The  desert  circle  spreads, 
Like  the  round  ocean,  girdled  with  the  sky. " 


CHAPTEE    XYI. 


THE  ELK — continued. 


0  terrible  was  the  cold,  that,  having  made  a 
movement  for  the  purpose  of  wrapping  my- 
self up  more  warmly  in  my  bison-skin,  I 
felt  my  hand,  though  only  exposed  for  a  mo- 
ment to  the  air,  stiffen,  as  if  caught  in  an  invisible  vice. 
I  wrapped  my  head  in  a  thick  coverlet,  and,  ten  minutes 
afterwards,  my  breath  had  formed  on  its  hairy  surface  a 
coat  of  ice  which  chilled  my  very  lips.     The  rarefied  air 


TRAVELLING  IN  THE  SNOW.  241 

gave  a  bluish  tinge  to  the  flame  of  our  fire,  whose  heat 
was  not  sufficient  even  to  melt  the  thick  layer  of  snow 
which  rested  on  the  extremity  of  the  branches  whose 
other  end  was  burning  in  the  fire. 

At  length  the  morning  dawned,  and  we  hastened  to 
resume  our  journey.  On  this  day  it  fell  to  our  lot  to 
traverse  a  rough  mountainous  country,  so  steep  in  various 
parts,  that  we  were  constrained  to  climb  the  abrupt  ac- 
clivities clinging  to  every  ledge  and  projection  of  the 
rock,  and  to  the  branches  of  every  stunted  bush  which 
found  a  scanty  nourishment  in  the  barren  soil. 

To  descend  the  slopes,  we  acted  in  a  different  fashion ; 
that  is,  we  placed  our  snow-shoes  one  against  the  other, 
and  suffered  ourselves  to  slide  almost  without  effort  over 
the  thick  frozen  crust.  In  this  way  we  advanced  with 
very  great  rapidity,  except  when  we  encountered  on  our 
way  an  unforeseen  obstacle ;  in  which  case  '  we  im- 
mediately came  to  grief,  and  frequently  were  thrown 
headlong  into  a  kind  of  snow-pit.  The  reader  may  imagine 
the  ludicrous  character  of  our  contortions  and  grimaces  as 
we  extricated  ourselves  from  this  embarrassment.  It  was 
truly  comic. 

We  halted  ordinarily  after  an  hour's  walking  along 
the  side  of  a  brook,  on  the  banks  of  a  torrent  scarcely 
visible  under  the  snow.  Our  object  was  to  quench  our 
thirst,  and  at  the  same  time  to  rest  ourselves  for  a  few 
minutes. 

To  trace  out  our  route  for  us,  our  Indians  placed  them- 
selves alternately  at  the  head  of  the  small  caravan.  It 
was,  I  must  confess,  most  fatiguing  work;  but,  guided 
by  a  special   instinct,  they  directed    their   course    with 

(414)  16 


242  WHAT  IS  A  ''  RAVAGE  "  1 

wonderful  skill  through  the  windings  of  the  desert,  buried 
under  a  thick  bed  of  ice. 

In  this  way  we  accomplished  some  eighteen  miles 
before  w^e  reached  the  bank  of  a  small  river,  whose  waters 
were  entirely  frozen.  From  this  moment  our  principal 
guide  manifested  an  ecstacy  of  joy,  expressed  by  a  few 
shouts  and  two  or  three  gambols ;  and  after  we  had 
descended  along  the  river  for  a  distance  of  two  or  three 
hundred  yards  he  announced  to  us  that  we  were  to  halt 
there,  for  we  were  not  more  than  two  miles  from  the 
ravage  of  the  deer,  in  pursuit  of  whom  we  had  undergone 
so  many  labours. 

My  readers  have  already  guessed  that  a  ravage,  in  the 
Canadian  language,  signifies  the  lair  or  hiding-place  of 
the  deer.  These  animals  often  inhabit  the  same  ^'ravages  " 
for  several  weeks,  browzing  on  the  young  shoots  of  the 
trees,  and  peeling  the  bark  of  the  branches  down  to  the 
very  sap.  They  do  not  abandon  the  work  of  destruction 
until  their  harvest,  or  rather  their  "  ravage,"  is  termi- 
nated, and  then  they  move  a  little  further  onward,  but 
without  hurry,  to  continue  their  inactive  life,  which  is 
rarely  disturbed  by  the  visit  of  men.  It  is  for  this  reason 
these  animals  are  so  fat  in  the  winter  season. 

We  hastened  to  raise  a  hut,  to  take  our  supper,  and  lie 
down  around  the  fire.  This  evening  passed  in  a  very 
similar  manner  to  the  preceding  one.  Fortunately,  the 
cold  was  less  intense,  and  we  were  able  by  sound  sleep  to 
recruit  our  strength. 

When  we  awoke  at  daybreak  the  sky  was  very  dull, 
the  snow  fell  in  thick  flakes,  and,  spite  of  the  gust,  w^e 
set  out  for  the  "ravage,"  taking  with  us  four  of  our 
Indians  and  a  complete  pack  of  hounds. 


FOLLOWING  THE  TRAIL.  243 

The  freshly  fallen  snow  retarded  our  progress,  for  it 
insinuated  itself  between  the  stitches  of  our  shoes.  And, 
worse  still,  at  the  slightest  shake  the  branches  of  the  trees 
vmder  which  we  passed  poured  down  upon  us  an  icy  whirl- 
wind, whose  thick  particles,  clinging  to  our  garments, 
quickly  melted,  thanks  to  the  thaw,  and  penetrated  them 
with  a  chill  humidity. 

In  spite  of  all  these  inconveniences,  we  gave  no  heed 
either  to  cold  or  fatigue  :  carried  away  by  the  ardour  of  the 
chase,  our  sole  thought  was  of  overtaking  the  deer. 
Already  we  perceived,  deeply  incrusted  in  the  snow,  the 
traces  of  these  animals,  and  evidently  of  a  numerous 
herd;  the  marks  of  their  teeth  on  the  branches  of  the 
trees  were  visible  to  all  eyes,  and  when  we  reached  the 
base  of  a  small  hill  it  was  obvious  that  the  animals  could 
be  at  no  great  distance  from  us. 

The  dogs  were  then  uncoupled,  and  a  few  minutes  later 
we  heard  all  the  modulations  of  their  barkings. 

The  snow  ceased  to  fall,  and  the  brightening  atmosphere 
enabled  us  to  follow  the  hunt. 

In  the  track  of  our  dogs  we  darted  forward, — ^the 
captain,  the  Indians,  and  myself, — and  ascended  to  the 
summit  of  the  hill,  where  we  found  the  fresh  traces  of 
numerous  stags. 

Carried  away  by  my  ardour,  and  embarrassed  by  the 
confounded  snow-shoes  which  I  had  on  my  feet,  I  stumbled 
at  every  step,  and  experienced  the  greatest  difficulty  in 
following  up  the  hunters  and  the  hounds.  It  is  necessary 
I  should  add,  in  passing,  that  Maclean,  Jack,  and  his  three 
companions  were  skilful  in  the  use  of  their  chaussures, 
and  flew  rather  than  walked  along  the  snow. 

All  at  once  the  dogs  halted,  and  just  as  we  issued  from 


244  PURSUED  AND  PURSUER. 

a  very  dense  thicket,  we  saw  tliem  surround  three  enor- 
mous deer,  whose  aspect  seemed  to  lend  new  strength  to 
their  resounding  lungs.  However,  like  prudent  dogs, 
they  durst  not  venture  on  an  attack,  and  prudently  held 
themselves  on  their  guard. 

Immediately  the  deer  perceived  us,  they  slowly  beat  a 
retreat ;  slowly,  for  their  feet  sank  deep  into  the  fresh 
fallen  snow — they  plunged  into  it  up  to  the  belly.  The 
dogs,  emboldened  by  this  sign  of  fear,  then  rushed  in 
pursuit,  though  still  keeping  at  a  tolerable  distance. 

Whether  by  chance  or  by  peculiar  tactics,  the  three 
stags  took  three  different  directions.  Maclean  dashed 
after  the  first,  I  pursued  the  second,  and  one  of  the 
Indians  sped  in  the  track  of  the  third.  At  first  the 
quadrupeds  outran  us  :  mine,  especially,  contrived  to  keep 
five  or  six  hundred  feet  ahead ;  but  gradually  his  bounds 
became  less  rapid,  and  large  gouts  of  blood  showed  that 
the  hard  ice,  crushed  by  his  hoofs  under  the  stratum  of 
freshly  fallen  snow,  had  sorely  wounded  him. 
.  The  dense  brushwood  choking  the  abrupt  declivities  of 
the  hill  hid  from  the  eyes  of  each  of  us  the  animal  he  was 
pursuing ;  but  one  could  distinctly  hear  the  noise  of  his 
breath  through  his  snorting  nostrils,  and  the  crackling  of 
the  branches  which  he  snapped  in  his  rapid  flight.  The 
earth,  much  torn  and  ploughed  up  in  various  places, 
showed  where  the  animal  had  slipped  or  fallen ;  his 
despair,  augmented  by  the  instinct  of  danger  and  the 
impossibility  of  avoiding  it,  was  manifested  by  unexampled 
leaps. 

The  further  we  advanced  the  more  terrible  became  the 
crackling  of  the  branches,  the  more  hurried  and  violent 
the  respiration  of  the  animal,  the  more  deeply  the  snow 


BROUGHT  TO  BAY.  215 

was  tinged  with  blood.  The  famished  dogs  redoubled 
their  plaintive  howls.  We  accelerated  our  pace  ;  our  pur- 
suit grew  so  furious  that  we  lost  breath,  and  paid  no  heed 
to  the  difficulties  of  the  ground  or  the  enormous  trunks 
of  the  forest  cedars. 

In  the  midst  of  an  intertangled  copse  I  came  upon  an 
open  space,  which  led  me  to  a  marshy  valley  besprinkled 
here  and  there  with  venerable  trees,  whose  swart  and 
rugged  trunks  rose  upwards  of  one  hundred  feet  above 
the  ground.  There  my  stag  was  brought  to  bay.  Fatigue 
had  exhausted  his  strength,  his  feet  refused  to  second  his 
courage ;  but,  despite  of  his  weakness,  he  still  reared  his 
head  on  high,  and  at  each  motion  of  his  rugose  antlers  the 
dogs  bounded  backward,  their  barks  betraying  a  sentiment 
of  fear.  They  fixed  their  greedy  eyes  upon  the  animal, 
and  gnashed  their  teeth,  without  daring  to  venture  within 
six  or  seven  yards  of  him. 

The  elk  before  my  eyes  was  a  truly  splendid  animal. 
From  the  sole  of  his  foot  to  his  haunch  he  was  at  least 
six  feet  in  height ;  and  at  the  moment  of  my  advance  I 
seemed  to  read  in  his  large  black  eye  a  mute  but  eloquent 
supplication  for  mercy.  Alas  !  every  hunter  is  pitiless  ; 
this  is  a  fact  abundantly  proved,  and  not  one  of  the 
disciples  of  St.  Hubert  would  dare,  on  his  return  to  his 
home,  to  commit,  out  of  gaiety  of  heart,  in  his  poultry- 
yard  or  garden,  such  barbarous  slaughter  as  he  joyously 
takes  part  in  when  armed  with  his  rifle  and  in  the  heart 
of  the  wood. 

The  elk's  sentence  of  death  was  probably  written  in  my 
eyes.  The  poor  animal  knew  that  he  was  to  die,  and 
from  that  moment  made  no  effort  either  in  flight  or 
defence.     I  took  aim  at  my  ease,  let  go  the  trigger,  and 


246  A  NOBLE  ANIMAL. 

my  ball  hit  him  right  in  his  chest.  The  pain  aroused  the 
noble  beast,  and  raising  himself  in  a  burst  of  fury,  he 
rushed  in  my  direction.  To  fly  in  snow-shoes  was  an 
impossibility;  I  therefore  thought  it  wiser  to  wait  for  the 
elk,  whose  strength  I  knew  must  immediately  fail  him. 
I  fired  my  second  ball  with  my  muzzle  almost  touching 
him;  immediately  he  halted,  tottered,  and  grew  stiff; 
his  neck  was  stretched  out,  and  the  blood  poured  from 
his  nostrils  and  mouth,  which  was  open  to  permit  the 
protrusion  of  his  panting  tongue.  A  moment  more  and 
the  poor  animal  sank  in  the  snow,  as  if  he  had  wished  to 
find  some  solace  in  his  last  severe  agony. 

Spite  of  his  death-fall,  however,  the  dogs  durst  not 
approach  him.  The  two  Indians,  who  had  followed  me, 
and  been  witnesses  of  the  encounter,  waited  patiently ; 
they  feared  the  last  convulsions  of  that  supreme  moment, 
for  the  animal  who  feels  himself  dying  is  oftentimes  more 
dangerous  than  he  who  possesses  all  the  vigour  of  life. 
It  is  advisable  therefore  to  bide  your  time ;  so,  it  was 
not  until  the  eye  of  the  elk  had  become  glassy,  and  death 
had  stiffened  his  nervous  limbs,  that  we  thought  it  prudent 
to  draw  near  and  at  our  ease  examine  the  inanimate  mass 
lying  before  us. 

I  had  never  seen  a  more  enormous  specimen  of  his 
tribe ;  he  might  almost  have  been  mistaken  for  a  young 
horse  in  body ;  and  the  antlers  which  crowned  his  head 
measured  nearly  six  feet  in  height.  Hoofs  as  large  as 
those  of  an  ass  terminated  four  legs  as  slender  as  those 
of  a  giraffe.  As  a  whole,  this  elk — the  first  which  I 
had  seen  out  of  a  cabinet  of  natural  history — appeared 
to  me   the   most  admirable  of  the  animals  of  creation, 


THE  HUNTERS  AND  THEIR  SPOIL.  247 

and  I  felt  almost  a  remorse  that  I  had  been  guilty  of  his 
murder. 

The  Kedskins  hastily  felled  a  dead  tree  which  raised 
its  gaunt  red  boughs  in  the  midst  of  a  clump  of  green 
cedars  ;  with  their  hands  they  tore  off  the  bark,  and 
speedily  the  flame  rose  in  bluish  spirals  from  a  noble  fire. 
The  snow  was  afterwards  well  beaten  all  around,  the  axe 
brought  down  a  couple  of  firs  to  serve  as  benches,  and 
while  I  seated  myself  upon  one  of  them,  my  two  Indians 
set  to  work  to  flay  and  cut  up  the  animal.  Though  they 
used  all  possible  diligence,  this  opei'ation  lasted  for  upwards 
of  two  hours.  As  may  be  supposed,  the  skin,  the  haunch, 
and  the  best  portions  of  the  flesh  were  deposited  in  a  couple 
of  tobogins  hastily  put  together.  We  abandoned  the  rest 
to  the  dogs,  who  in  their  turn,  having  quickly  satisfied 
themselves,  left  the  relics  to  the  wolves,  the  kites,  and 
the  eagles  :  then  we  resumed  the  road  to  our  hunting 
rendezvous. 

Captain  Maclean  arrived  at  the  same  time  as  we  did ; 
he  too  had  killed  his  elk,  but  the  animal  had  gallantly 
defended  himself,  and  had  made  him  undertake  a  pro- 
longed and  wearisome  excursion.  The  keen  air  had 
whetted  our  appetite,  and  induced  us  to  turn  our  thoughts 
towards  a  solid  repast.  Our  Indians  therefore  cooked  the 
marrow  and  the  kidneys,  which  were  devoured,  and  pro- 
nounced excellent.  The  remainder  of  our  provisions,  well 
wrapped  up  in  a  coverlet,  was  buried  in  the  snow ;  but 
before  proceeding  to  this  operation  we  flung  all  the  pick- 
ings and  parings  to  the  dogs,  who  fell  to  the  banquet  with 
renewed  ardour. 

I  may  add  that  the  third  elk,  fortunately  for  himself, 
had  escaped  the  pursuit  of  the  Redskins. 


248  FIRING  THE  FOREST. 

With  the  approach  of  night  a  thaw  began,  and  the 
heat  of  the  atmosphere  quickly  melted  our  roof  of  snow. 
The  water  trickled  upon  our  clothing  and  imperceptibly 
soaked  through  it.  Our  situation  jbherefore  soon  became 
critical.  In  order  to  warm  ourselves,  we  thought  of  a 
pastime  which  is  popular  enough  in  the  northern  districts 
of  Upper  Canada. 

Our  encampment  was  surrounded  by  a  dense  forest- 
growth  of  cedars,  pines,  and  birches.  The  latter  trees  change 
their  bark  yearly,  as  serpents  slough  their  skins.  This 
is  one  of  the  caprices  of  nature  well  known  to  botanical 
students.  Now,  the  old  bark,  which  frequently  remains 
suspended  in  fragments  to  the  trunks  and  branches  of 
the  trees,  burns  as  rapidly  as  straw ;  it  produces  a  bright 
red  flame  like  that  of  a  coal  fire,  and  the  resin  as  it  con- 
sumes exhales  a  camphor  scent  of  peculiarly  agreeable 
character.  The  Indians  fashion  this  bark  into  close  long 
rolls,  like  torches  in  shape ;  and  their  brilliancy  is  equal 
to,  if  not  more  intense  than,  the  brilliancy  of  torches  of 
pitch. 

With  the  aid  of  these  materials  we  resolved  on  organiz- 
ing a  gigantic  illumination  as  a  worthy  celebration  of  the 
exploits  of  the  day.  As  soon  as  night  had  come,  we  all 
dispersed  into  the  woods  armed  with  our  flaring  torches, 
and  resolutely  began  to  ignite,  as  we  advanced,  the  frag- 
ments of  bark  and  the  trunks  of  the  birch-trees.  Never 
in  my  life  have  I  seen  a  more  magnificent  spectacle  ! 
Figure  to  yourself,  dear  reader,  fifty  to  sixty  trees  in  a 
perimeter  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  wrapped  in  crimson 
flames,  which  floated  in  spiral  waves  around  each  trunk 
and  branch,  and.  rose  even  to  the  dim  tops  of  the  lofty 
pines,  to  fall   back  afterwards  in  a  thousand  luminous 


A  NIGHT  IN  THE  CABIN.  249 

sheaves,  whose  brilliant  resin  brightened  simultaneously 
the  blue-black  heaven  and  the  flashing  snow.  We  wan- 
dered in  this  "  circle  of  light "  for  some  time,  setting  fire 
to  everything  in  our  path ;  but,  at  length,  the  distant 
voices  of  the  Indians,  who  had  regained  the  encampment, 
warned  us  that  we  must  think  of  returning. 

It  was  not  without  some  difiiculty  we  made  our  way 
to  the  cabin.  The  trees  all  around  it  had  burned  them- 
selves out,  and  our  "  hunting-box  "  lay  buried  in  the  pro- 
foundest  darkness. 

This  wild  insensate  pastime,  in  which  Maclean  and  I 
had  taken  part  as  if  we  had  been  genuine  Kedskins, 
destroyed  about  a  hundred  magnificent  trees,  each  one  of 
which  would  in  itself  have  been  a  noble  ornament  to  the 
finest  park  in  Europe ;  but  we  may  plead  as  an  excuse 
that  we  were  two  days*  journey  from  any  habitation,  and 
we  thought,  not  unreasonably,  that  numerous  years  would 
glide  away  before  human  feet  trod  the  savage  wilderness ; 
that  centuries  perhaps  would  pass  before  civilization 
advanced  to  so  remote  a  goal. 

The  Indians  had  returned  to  our  encampment  that  they 
might  gorge  themselves  anew  with  venison;  we  found 
them  still  eating — yet  they  had  eat  so  much  that,  out  of 
very  weariness,  they  could  scarcely  open  their  jaws. 

Soon  they  fell  into  a  complete  lethargy,  like  that  of  the 
boa-constrictor  after  he  has  swallowed  his  prey ;  then, 
after  smoking  a  pipe,  they  all  dropped  into  a  deep  slumber, 
with  mouths  half  open,  apparently  dead,  but  snorting  like 
so  many  steam-engines  ! 

Old  Jack  did  not  imitate  his  comrades  until  he  had 


250  SLUMBER  AND  SMOKE. 

made  many  fruitless  attempts  to  get  hold  of  the  brandy 
bottle.  But  fortunately  he  had  to  do  with  persons  as 
astute  as  himself;  we  resisted  all  his  supplications,  and 
eventually  he  condescended  to  leave  us  at  peace. 


TRANSPORTED   INTO   THE   LAND   OF  DREAMS." 

The  wind  rose  during  the  night,  and  as  it  beat  down 
upon  us  the  smoke  of  the  green  trees,  we  soon  experienced 
a  smarting  of  the  eyes  which  by  the  morning  became 
intolerable.  We  suffered  from  this  inconvenience  mvich 
more  than  we  had  suffered  from  the  cold  two  nights  before. 
The  Indians  did  not  complain  of  the  smoke.  It  is  true 
that  the  orgy  in  which  they  had  taken  part  had  trans- 
ported them  into  the  land  of  dreams,  and  rendered  them 
insensible  to  the  miseries  of  this  commonplace  world. 

As  soon  as  day  reappeared.  Jack  and  his  comrades 
pressed  us  to  continue  the  chase;  but  Maclean  and 
myself  had   experienced  that  the  trouble  exceeded  the 


A  HERD  OF  CARIBOOS.  251 

pleasure;  so,  with  a  common  accord,  we  decided  on  re- 
turning. 

We  busied  ourselves  in  putting  our  baggage  in  order, 
adding  to  it  the  elk  meat,  the  two  haunches,  and  the  two 
skins;  the  whole  was  placed  upon  the  tobogins,  and 
towards  noon  we  resumed  our  route  to  Quebec. 

Two  hours  after  our  departure,  the  dogs  suddenly  darted 
towards  a  hill,  at  whose  base  we  were  advancing  with 
difficulty  over  a  bed  of  half-melted  snow.  They  barked 
in  a  most  plethoric  fashion,  thanks  to  the  previous  day's 
banquet,  whose  digestion  was  not  yet  completed. 

Soon  we  heard  a  great  noise,  caused  by  the  snapping 
and  crackling  of  shrubs  and  cedar  boughs,  and  a  moment 
afterwards  five  enormous  ''  cariboos,"  the  reindeer  of 
North  America,  swept  past  on  our  right,  at  about  a 
hundred  paces  from  our  caravan. 

In  vain  Maclean  and  myself  discharged  our  four  barrels 
at  them;  our  bullets  were  spent  among  the  branches  of 
the  forest,  and  the  whole  herd  speedily  vanished  in  the 
depths  of  the  cedar  wood. 

We  did  not  even  think  of  pursuing  the  five  fugitives ; 
it  would  have  been  madness,  for  they  were  as  swift  as  the 
wind,  and  their  light  feet  scarcely  dinted  the  snow,  whose 
surface  began  to  grow  much  firmer,  thanks  to  the  colder 
air  of  the  afternoon. 

This  hunting  incident  beguiled  for  us  the  wearisome- 
ness  of  our  route,  and  we  arrived  without  any  mishap  at 
the  first  hut  we  had  constructed.  It  was  unoccupied,  as 
the  reader  will  suppose ;  but  the  snow,  driven  by  the 
wind,  had  to  some  extent  invaded  the  interior.  While 
we  were  clearing  out  the  doorway,  two  or  three  chatter- 


252  A  DAINTY  DISH. 

ing  birds  of  the  pie  species,  which  the  Indians  name 
7)ioose  birds,  perched  on  the  cedar  boughs  above  our  hut, 
made  numerous  attacks  on  the  tobogin  wherein  we  had 
stored  our  venison.  But  the  dogs  whom  we  had  ap- 
pointed as  its  custodians,  kept  careful  watch,  and  persever- 
ingly  drove  away  the  winged  robbers.  At  intervals  the 
captain  and  I  fired  several  shots  at  them ;  but  as  we  had 
only  bullets,  and  not  a  grain  of  lead  in  our  stores,  to  hit 
them  was  a  difficult  matter.  The  bullet  often  broke  the 
branch  on  which  they  were  perched,  but  the  moose  birds 
coolly  flew  away  to  another  tree,  renewing  their  fright- 
ful uproar  with  angry  vivacity. 

The  next  day  we  started  at  an  early  hour,  so  that  before 
noon  we  reached  Mr.  Joassin's  mansion,  where  we  did 
not  sojourn  longer  than  was  necessary,  or  rather  indis- 
pensable. 

The  landlord  of  the  "King  George"  Hotel,  where  we 
halted  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  received  us  with 
enthusiasm.  He  taught  us  the  high  favour  bestowed  by 
professors  of  the  culinary  art  upon  the  deer's  muzzle — 
two  specimens  of  which  were  included  among  the  trea- 
sures of  our  tobogins.  In  fact,  the  upper  lip  of  the  elk, 
to  which  the  nose  adheres,  grows  to  an  enormous  size, 
and  when  treated  like  turtle-flesh,  forms  a  dish  of  the 
greatest  delicacy.  Among  Canadian  gourmands,  this  plat 
of  venison  is  even  more  esteemed  than  the  green  turtle 
of  the  seas  of  the  South. 

When  we  passed  in  front  of  the  terrible  precipice  in 
whose  vicinity  our  vehicle  had  capsized  on  the  Loretto 


THE  OVERTHROW  OF  THE  SLEDGE.  253 

route,  we  could  not  help  trembling.  An  involuntary 
shudder  shot  through  every  limb,  and  we  felt,  with  grate- 
ful hearts,  that  it  was  only  by  the  mercy  of  Providence 
we  had  escaped  a  frightful  death. 

We  still  continued  our  journey  in  the  direction  of  Que- 
bec ;  but  as  night  came  on,  our  guide  mistook  his  route 
at  a  point  where  two  roads  branched  off.  A  stout  fence 
of  thorns,  whose  tops  alone  were  visible  above  the  level 
of  the  snow,  at  length  interposed  itself  as  an  effectual  bar- 
rier to  our  advance.  Fortunately,  a  house  was  situated  at 
no  great  distance  from  the  spot/  and  on  the  threshold  of 
the  door  stood  a  kindly  old  woman,  who  hailed  us  to 
make  known  the  error  into  which  we  had  unwittingly 
fallen. 

The  reader  will  scarcely  believe  that  our  conductor,  in- 
stead of  endeavouring  to  extricate  us  from  our  embar- 
rassment, began  to  bellow  like  a  calf !  Then  all  at  once, 
having  offered  up  this  sacrifice  to  Despondency,  he  re- 
covered breath,  and  began  to  curse  and  swear  like  a  shame- 
less miscreant  !  Finally,  he  seized  the  two  horses  of  the 
sledge  by  the  bridle,  and  precipitating  them  and  himself 
into  the  midst  of  the  snow,  he  contrived  to  wheel  us  into 
the  right  direction. 

For  a  few  seconds  the  horses  reared  and  kicked  j  the 
conductor  redoubled  his  oaths  and  shouts ;  we  leaped  the 
hedge,  and  with  a  sudden  and  wholly  unparalleled  sum- 
mersault, came  down  on  the  other  side,  the  sledge  with  its 
bottom  upwards,  the  horses  on  their  backs,  the  driver 
on  his  head,  and  Maclean  and  I  on  our  stomachs,  at  about 
ten  paces  from  our  vehicle  and  our  steeds.  Fortunately, 
nothing  was  broken ;  neither  our  ribs  nor  the  traces  of 


254  ARRIVING  AT  QUEBEC. 

our  horses,  and  as  soon  as  order  was  re-established,  we 
continued  our  march.  At  ten  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  we  re-entered  Quebec. 

I  will  not  dwell,  to  the  fatigue  of  the  reader,  on  the 
delight  we  experienced  in  once  more  obtaining  the  advan- 
tages of  warm  water,  soap,  razors,  hair-brushes,  and  a 
feather-bed  in  a  well- warmed  chamber.  One  must  have 
been  deprived  of  these  indispensable  articles  of  civiliza- 
tion, to  feel  the  charm  which  one  experiences  on  recover- 
ing them  after  a  few  days'  separation. 

In  spite  of  my  passion  for  the  chase,  friendly  reader,  I 
declare  that  I  have  no  desire  again  to  try  the  experiment 
of  a  sledge-journey  in  the  snow.  If  ever  I  experience  a 
fancy  to  renew  my  acquaintance  with  the  elks,  I  shall 
take  a  cab  to  the  Zoological  Gardens,  where  I  can  seat 
myself  at  my  ease,  near  the  "  ravage ''  of  these  animals, 
and  observe  their  habits  without  any  fear  that  one  of 
them  will  make  a  rush  at  me. 

To  conclude  :  I  cannot  say  that  I  regret  having  once 
in  my  life  paid  a  visit  to  the  solitudes  of  Canada.  I  pro- 
test only  against  the  pretended  pleasure  of  adventuring 
through  hyperborean  cold  in  pursuit  of  elks ;  and  I  defy 
Nimrod  himself  to  prove  to  me  that  it  is  "  a  royal  sport," 
— at  least,  unless  he  can  succeed  in  demonstrating  at  the 
same  time  that  the  ignoble  Kedskins  of  Loretto  are  the 
worthy  descendants  of  the  Indian  heroes  who  figure  in 
Cooper's  brilliant  pages,  of  the  XJncas  and  the  Chingach- 
Kooks. 


CHAPTER  XYIL 


THE    CARIBOO,    OR   AMERICAN  REINDEER.* 

N  the  month  of  January  1843,  and  in  one  of 
the  coldest  winters  ever  experienced  in  the 
United  States,  I  was  seated,  in  the  evening, 
by  the  fireside  of  the  vast  dining-room  of  a 
farmer  in  New  Brunswick.  Mr.  Thomas  Howard,  my 
host,  was  one  of  the  most  intrepid  hunters  in  the  colony, 
and,  thanks  to  the  recommendation  of  my  friend,  Mr. 
William  Porter,  the  able  editor-in-chief  of  the  New  York 
sporting  journal,  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  I  had  been  re- 


■*  The  cariboo  is  the  largest  of  the  North  American  deer.  In  form  he 
closely  resembles  the  reindeer  of  Lapland,  but  their  habits  are  completely 
different.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  for  instance,  that  the  cariboo  is  as  dan- 
gerous as  the  bison ;  and  though  it  is  said  he  will  not  attack  man,  we  must 
not  confide  too  much  in  the  timidity  with  which  naturalists  are  pleased  to 
adorn  him.  As  game,  he  is  a  delicious  food  ;  delicate  as  the  kid,  juicy  as  tlie 
hare. 


256  SNOW-SHOES. 

ceived  by  this  American  Nimrod  with  a  truly  Scottish 
hospitality.  Without,  the  snow  fell  in  thick  flakes,  and 
lashed  the  windows  of  the  apartment  in  which  IMr.  How- 
ard and  I  were  regaling  ourselves  over  a  bottle  of  good 
sherry  wine. 

*^  Fill  your  glass  and  mine,  Benedict,"  said  Mr.  How- 
ard j  "I  wish  to  drink  to  France,  to  your  dear  country, 
and  to  all  hunters  who,  like  yourself,  are  animated  with 
the  sacred  fire.  I  have  not  forgotten,  my  gallant  friend, 
that  I  have  promised  to  help  you  kill  a  cariboo  before  you 
return  to  New  York.  You  are  aware  that  the  brute 
runs  with  an  almost  incredible  rapidity,  and  that,  to  ap- 
proach him,  you  must  follow  up  his  trail  in  snow-shoes — 
in  those  great  rackets  which  you  see  hanging  to  yonder 
wall." 

And  Mr.  Howard  showed  me  two  immense  pattens  of 
an  oval  form,  shaped  like  the  rackets  with  which  we  play 

in  England  and  France. 
Tt  is  the  chaussure  which 
the  Indians  use  to  pre- 
vent their  sinking  in  the 

SNOW-SHOE.  gj^^^^^ 

^^  You  will  ha^'e  some  trouble,"  he  continued,  "  in 
making  use  of  these  rackets  the  first  time  you  put  them 
on ;  but  I  am  sure  that  after  fifteen  to  twenty  paces,  at 
the  utmost,  you  will  soon  surmount  that  difficulty.  You 
know,"  he  added,  "that  my  friend,  the  Indian  Monai, 
has  promised  to  come  here  as  soon  as  the  w^eather  is 
favourable  for  hunting  the  cariboo.  Now,  as  no  time  is 
more  favourable  for  this  kind  of  sport  than  w^hen  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow,  I  opine  that  he  will  before 
long  make  his  appearance,  perhaps  even  this  very  even- 


A  GENUINE  INDIAN.  257 

ing.  His  tribe  are  encaroped  about  five  miles  from  my 
house ;  and  an  Indian,  my  dear  friend,  never  breaks  his 
plighted  word." 

He  had  scarcely  finished  these  words,  when  the  pro- 
longed barking  of  the  dogs  announced  a  stranger^s  arrival. 
A  moment  afterwards,  a  sharp  whistling  like  that  of  a 
locomotive  was  heard  without ;  and  the  dogs,  changing 
their  note,  uttered  loud  yelps  of  joy,  which  proved  that 
the  person  entering  the  farmyard  was  intimately  known 
to  them. 

"That  is  Monai!"  cried  Mr.  Howard;  "talk  of  the 
wolf,  my  friend,  and — you  know  !  My  dogs  look  upon  the 
Kedskin  as  a  friend,  and  make  him  welcome." 

Just  at  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  Indian 
entered  the  dining-room.  He  was  a  man  of  middle 
stature,  stoutly  built ;  his  face  was  fine  and  expressive, 
though  a  profound  melancholy  was  visible  in  his  looks ; 
his  eyes  shone  like  carbuncles.  After  a  rapid  glance  all 
round  the  room,  he  advanced  silently  towards  the  chimney. 

His  attire  consisted  of  a  blouse  of  buffalo-skin,  orna- 
mented with  embroideries  made  of  the  bristles  'of  the 
porcupine,  and  with  a  fringe  worked  into  the  skin  itself. 
His  legs  were  encased  in  skin  breeches,  which  were  turned 
into  gaiters  upon  the  calves,  and  buttoned,  from  the  knee 
to  the  ankle,  where  they  were  adorned  with  fringes  like 
those  of  the  blouse.  Two  small  mocassins  of  peccary- 
skin  shod  Monafs  feet,  which  were  as  well  shaped  as  those 
of  a  Spanish  senorita. 

To  a  broad  girdle  was  suspended  a  pouch  made  of 
otter-skin,  and  enriched  with  designs  similar  to  those 
which  embellished  the  entire  costume  of  this  child 'of  the 
forest. 

(4U)  17 


258  MONAi's  "weed." 

Monai  took  from  a  corner  of  the  room  a  wooden  stool 
which  usually  served  as  the  seat  of  a  little  girl,  Mr. 
Howard's  only  child ;  drew  near  the  fire,  seated  himself, 
and,  without  speaking,  took  from  his  pouch  a  case  like 
that  which  we  use  in  Europe  for  holding  cigars,  and 
offered  it  to  me  with  a  singularly  charming  grace.  While 
I  admired  the  Redskin's  present,  he  tranquilly  filled  his 
pipe  with  tobacco,  lighted  it  at  the  fire,  and,  after  emitting 
a  few  pufi*s,  passed  it  on  to  me  with  a  look  that  meant  I 
should  follow  his  example. 

That  I  care  little  for  the  pi]3e,  I  confess ;  the  tobacco 
smoked  in  these  calumets  always  nauseates  me ;  so  I  was 
about  to  refuse,  when  Mr.  Howard  said, — 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  my  friend ;  this  tobacco  will  do  you 
no  harm.  Try  it,  and  you  will  see  that  Monai  has  no 
wish  to  poison  you." 

And,  in  truth,  I  found  Monai's  *^  weed "  so  delicious, 
that  I  was  imprudent  enough  to  fill  the  pipe  afresh,  when 
I  had  finished  smoking  the  first  "priming." 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Howard  filled  a  glass  with  sherry,  and 
handed  it  to  Monai. 

"  My  brother,"  he  said  to  him,  "  will  you  remain  with 
us  to-night  1" 

Monai,  before  replying,  swallowed  his  sherry  to  the 
very  last  drop. 

"  The  Indian,"  he  replied,  "  goes  to-morrow  to  the 
chase.  The  weather  is  good  for  attacking  the  cariboo ; 
the  snow  is  nine  and  a  half  inches  deep.  Will  my  white 
brother  accompany  me  ?  I  have  brought  two  new  pairs 
of  snow-shoes  ;  one  for  him,  and  one  for  myself." 

"  In  what  direction  shall  we  hunt,  Monai?" 

"  Towards  the  north ;  towards  the  country  where  we 


MAKING  READY.  259 

went  last  year.  The  cariboos  are  numerous,  for  the 
Indians  have  not  yet  visited  the  forest.'* 

"  Ah  well,  Monai,  if  you  will  allow  me  to  bring  my 
friend  here,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  pointing  me  out  to  the 
Redskin,  "  I  will  go  with  thee." 

Monai,  at  these  words,  cast  a  rapid  glance  upon  me ; 
and  after  a  moment's  silence,  addressed  me  directly, — 

"  Does  the  pale-face  my  brother  know  how  to  make 
use  of  the  snow-shoes  ?"    . 

To  tell  the  truth,  I  dared  not  assure  Monai  of  my 
ability  to  walk  easily  in  so  novel  a  chaussure.  I  was 
therefore  on  the  point  of  answering  in  the  negative, 
when  Mr.  Howard,  comprehending  my  hesitation,  said  to 
Monai, — 

"  I  will  take  charge  of  my  brother  the  pale-face ;  if  he 
cannot  follow  us  to  the  chase,  he  will  remain  at  the  camp 
and  prepare  our  food." 

Though  the  Indian  did  not  appear  to  appreciate  this 
arrangement  very  warmly,  he  made  a  sign  of  assent ;  and 
we  began  to  discuss  what  was  necessary  to  be  done  in 
order  that  we  might  start  at  daybreak  on  the  morrow. 

We  had  five  and  twenty  leagues  to  traverse  before  we 
could  arrive  at  our  rendezvous.  Mr.  Howard  imme- 
diately set  to  work  to  get  ready  the  rifles,  powder,  balls, 
clothing,  and  provisions.  I  assisted  him  in  all  these 
preparations,  which  had  forced  us  to  quit  the  apartment 
where  we  had  been  seated  before  the  Indian's  arrival; 
and  when  we  returned,  half  an  hour  afterwards,  our  ears 
were  disagreeably  surprised  by  a  sonorous  snore  which 
awoke  every  echo  in  the  dining-room  :  it  was  Monai, 
who,  stretched  full-length  on  the  rug  before  the  fire,  had 


260  AN  EARLY  MORNING-CALL. 

judged  it  prudent  to  prepare  himself  by  sleep  for  the 
fatigues  of  the  morrow's  chase. 

"  This  original,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  '^  prefers  yonder 
fragment  of  carpet  to  the  best  bed  in  the  house.  We 
have  only  to  leave  him  wood  enough  to  keep  up  the  fire, 
and  he  will  be  as  happy  as  a  king.  Come,  my  friend,  let 
us  retire  to  rest.  If  you  are  aroused  to-morrow  by  a 
Redskin,  don't  be  afraid  j  it  will  only  be  Monai  come, 
after  his  custom,  to  pull  you  out  of  bed  by  your  feet." 

At  half-past  three  in  the  morning,  the  light  of  a  lamp 
falling  on  my  half-closed  eyelids  awoke  me  with  a  start. 
I  thought  I  saw  Monai  before  me,  when  Mr.  Howard's 
voice  relieved  me  from  the  uncertainty  into  which  I  had 
been  thrown  by  the  sight  of  a  man  so  capriciously  at- 
tired ! 

"  Up,  up,  my  friend  1 "  he  cried ;  "all  is  ready ;  the 
cofiee  is  getting  cold,  and  if  you  don't  make  haste,  Monai, 
who  is  already  seated  at  table,  will  leave  you  neither  a 
cutlet  nor  a  slice  of  ham  for  your  breakfast.  Here  is  a 
costume  as  elegant  as  minej  dress,  and  come  down." 

The  breakfast  being  finished,  and  our  stomachs  warmed 
by  a  glass  of  whisky,  we  all  three  sprang  into  a  light 
sleigh,  and  in  seven  hours  our  horse  carried  us  bravely  to 
a  village  situated  about  a  couple  of  miles  from  our  ren- 
dezvous. 

In  an  inn,  which  bore  for  its  sign  the  head  of  the  im- 
mortal Washington,  but  had  only  one  comfortable  apart- 
ment— the  tahagie,  or  bar-room — we  found  beds  as  hard 
as  boards;  but  as  we  were  in  no  position  to  be  fastidious, 
we  threw  ourselves   upon  them,  and  got  what  rest   we 


MODE   OF  FASTENING  SNOW-SHOE. 


A  HARD  ROAD  TO  TRAVEL.  261 

could.  Next  morning  at  daybreak  we  made  ready  to 
start.  I  was  finishing  my  toilette  by  putting  on  my  mo- 
cassins, when  Mr,  Howard  arrested  my  arm,  saying, — 

^^  Listen,  my  friend,  to  your  first  lesson.  First  put  on 
these  woollen  hose;  now  wrap  these  two  pieces  of  felt 
around  your  feet,  and 
next  don  your  mocas- 
sins ;  finally,  let  me  fas- 
ten to  your  feet  these 
formidable  snow-shoes. 
Now,  Benedict,  stretch 
your  legs  wide  apart  when  you  walk ;  for  if  you  adopt 
your  ordinary  gait,  your  new  chaussure  being  three  feet 
long,  you  will  be  sure  of  a  downfall." 

And  without  another  word  he  seized  his  gun,  and  fol- 
lowed Monai,  who  was  about  fifty  paces  ahead  of  me. 

I  had  scarcely  made  three  steps  forward,  before  down 
I  went  on  my  nose.  Without  a  groan  I  rose  again;  and 
after  two  or  three  similar  capsizes,  which,  fortunately, 
owing  to  the  thickness  of  the  snow,  were  not  dangerous, 
I  learned  how  to  make  use  of  my  snow-shoes. 

After  two  hours'  walking  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest 
of  cedars  and  pines,  we  arrived  on  the  banks  of  a  spring 
of  hot  water,  where  we  took  a  few  moments'  repose ;  then 
we  resumed  our  route.  I  observed  that  Monai,  who 
acted  as  our  guide,  advanced  very  cautiously,  examined 
the  imprints  on  the  snow  and  the  fractures  in  the  branches 
of  the  trees.  At  length  he  stopped  short  before  a  pros- 
trate trunk,  and,  bending  over  one  of  its  sides,  he  thrust 
his  arm  into  the  snow. 

"There  are  stags  close  at  hand,"  said  Mr.  Howard; 
"  see,  their  ordure  is  quite  fresh.     These  animals  cannot 


262 


FOOTPRINTS  IN  THE  SNOW. 


move  over  so  thick  a  snow ;  we  shall  find  them  shortly 
in  their  basse-cour.'^ 

"  Now,  my  friend,"  he  continued,  "  observe  the  greatest 
silence  !  If  a  stag  come  within  your  reach,  I  beg  of  you 
not  to  fire ;  for  though  we  are  still  about  three  miles 
from  the  cariboos,  their  hearing  is  so  fine  that  they  will 
hear  us,  and  disappear  before  our  arrival.  Here,  Jack ! 
behind  ! "  added  Mr.  Howard,  speaking  to  a  magnificent 
deerhound.  "Do  you  see,  friend "?  He  has  found  the 
scent." 


I   ALONE   STOOD    ERECT 


As  we  advanced,  the  imprints  became  more  marked. 
Jack  was  put  in  leash ;  Monai  marched  in  advance ;  and 
Mr.  Howard  and  myself  followed  him  in  silence.  Jack 
foamed  at  the  mouth  ;  his  eyes  seemed  starting  from  his 
head;  but  he  did  not  bark.  Suddenly,  Monai  threw 
himself    on    the    ground;    Mr.    Howard    imitated    his 


*  Basse-cour,  the  name  given  to  a  spot  of  ground  cleared  out  by  the  stags, 
who  trample  down  the  snow  in  some  sheltered  corner ;  under  a  great  cedar, 
for  instance,  or  in  the  face  of  a  rock. 


THE  FLIGHT  OF  THE  STAG.  263 

example ;  I  alone  stood  erect,  until  a  blow  on  the  shin 
from  the  butt-end  of  my  friend's  musket  forced  me  also  to 
adopt  a  recumbent  position. 

I  was  on  the  point  of  asking  him  the  meaning  of  such 
mysterious  conduct,  when,  raising  my  head,  I  saw,  at  two 
hundred  feet  before  us,  a  stag  and  six  females  lying  on 
the  snow,  probably  asleep. 

In  spite  of  Mr.  Howard's  prohibition,  I  had  raised  my 
rifle  to  my  shoulder,  and  was  about  to  fire,  when. another 
blow  from  the  butt-end  of  his  musket  reminded  me  of 
the  warning  I  had  received.  Mr.  Howard  soon  arose,, 
and  gliding  stealthily  from  tree  to  tree,  and  bush  to 
bush,  endeavoured  to  approach  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
herd,  while  Monai  and  myself  remained  motionless  spec- 
tators of  this  stirring  scene,  which  every  hunter  will  ap- 
preciate as  it  deserves. 

All  at  once  the  entire  herd  arose,  with  outstretched 
neck  and  eager  eyes,  endeavouring  to  distinguish  the  enemy 
whom  their  instinct  warned  them  was  at  hand.  Their 
scent,  however,  seemed  to  be  at  fault,  and  to  bring  them 
only  the  sweet  breath  of  the  cedar  forests,  when  the  male 
of  the  troop  advanced  in  Mr.  Howard's  direction,  fol- 
lowed by  his  mates,  and  came  to  within  ten  paces  of  the 
tree  behind  which  Mr.  Howard  was  concealed.  At  the 
same  instant  a  red  handkerchief,  waved  by  my  friend, 
caught  the  animal's  eye.  Instead  of  halting,  the  noble 
stag,  raising  his  head,  which  was  crowned  by  the  noblest 
antlers  I  had  ever  seen,  continued  to  advance ;  and  he  had 
almost  touched  the  handkerchief  with  his  muzzle,  when 
Jack,  sj)ringing  upon  him,  caught  him  by  the  neck,  and 
inflicted  a  severe  wound.  It  is  useless  to  say  that  the 
stag  and  his  mates  scampered  away  before  us  with  the 


264  ''  TALLY-HO  !  TALLY-HO  !  " 

rapidity  of  lightning,  pursued  by  Jack,  Mr.  Howard, 
and  Monai,  who  soon  outstripped  me ;  gliding  over  the 
snow  in  their  snow-shoes  as  rapidly  as  a  Dutch  skater 
along  the  frozen  waters-  of  the  Zuyder  Zee. 

Soon  I  lost  sight  of  them,  though  I  did  my  best  to 
follow  up  their  traces.  At  length  I  reached  a  spot  where 
the  appearance  of  the  ground  showed  that  a  combat 
had  taken  place,  for  the  snow  was  covered  with  large 
gouts  of  blood.  In  the  distance,  and  still  in  front  of 
me,  I  could  hear  the  voices  of  Mr.  Howard  and  Monai 
echoing  in  the  forest.  I  still  pursued  the  path  hollowed 
out  in  the  snow  by  my  hunting  companions,  and,  after 
a  few  minutes,  arrived  on  a  gentle  slope  leading  to- 
wards a  valley  in  whose  centre  extended  a  lake  as 
round  as  the  great  basin  of  the  Tuileries.  My  eyes  had 
never  rested  on  a  more  admirable  spectacle.  The  wind 
had  swept  away  the  snow  which  covered  the  frozen  lake, 
and  the  rays  of  the  sun  glittered  on  the  icy  surface 
like  a  Venetian  glass  with  manifold  facets.  Mr.  Howard 
and  Monai,  whom  I  found  on  the  border  of  the  wood, 
showed  me  the  wounded  stag  pursued  in  the  distance 
by  Jack,  and  wheeling  around  the  lake  with  arrow-like 
rapidity.  -, 

* '  Is  not  this  a  glorious  sight  ? "  cried  Mr.  Howard,  as 
the  stag  passed  within  forty  paces  of  us;  "and  don't  you 
feel  tempted  to  lodge  a  ball  in  the  animal's  sides'?  Come, 
come,"  he  added,  resuming  his  course,  "we  must  make 
for  the  end  of  the  lake,  and  anticipate  our  game.  See, 
my  friend  !  he  is  down ;  Jack  leaps  at  his  throat  !  No, 
he  is  up  again!  Brave  dog  !  Tally-ho  !  tally-ho  !  Sus, 
sus  !  Ah,  see,  the  cariboo  is  off  once  more,  carrying  Jack 
along  with  him,  whose  fangs  have  sunk  pretty  deeply  into 


"  VICTORIOUS  JACK."  265 

his  flesh.     It  is  like  a  mouse  riding  a-horseback  on  a  cat ! 
Hurrah,  hurrah  ! " 

While  thus  speaking,  Mr.  Howard  fell  like  a  thunder- 
bolt on  the  harassed  stag,  which  struggled  with  the  last 
strength  of  a  dying  animal,  and  plunged  his  hunting- 
knife  into  his  breast. 

"When  I  arrived,  panting,  on  the  scene,  Mr.  Howard 
was  caressing  Jack,  who,  without  caring  particularly  for 
the  flattery,  lapped  up  eagerly  the  blood  escaping  from 
the  yawning  wound. 

"  Good  hound  ! "  cried  Mr.  Howard ;  "  brave  Jack  ! 
The  best  deerhounds  of  England  could  not  have  done 
better  than  you  have  done ;  and  besides,  instead  of  glid- 
ing over  the  snow,  like  Jack,  they  sink  into  it  too 
deeply  j  and  then,  not  one  of  them  can  grapple  a  stag  by 
the  throat  without  loosing  his  hold  ! — Monai,"  said  he, 
addressing  the  Indian,  who  regarded  the  picture  with  the 
impassability  of  a  statue,  '^  go  and  cut  up  the  animal 
before  he  is  frozen ;  select  the  best  pieces,  and  leave  the 
remainder  for  the  cayeutes.  We  have  quite  enough 
venison  for  our  hunting  supplies. — Come  with  me,  Bene- 
dict. I  am  going  to  dig  a  hole  in  the  ice,  and  see  if  I  can 
catch  a  few  trout  for  you,  that  we  may  have  both  flesh 
and  fish  for  our  dinner.  I  don't  think  you  would  get 
better  fare  in  Paris,  either  at  Yery's,  or  at  the  Fr6res-Pro- 
vengaux." 

Soon-  said,  soon  done;  the  axe  quickly  reached  the 
limpid  water  of  the  lake,  which  splashed  its  brilliant 
pearly  drops  about  our  leather  leggings.  Monai  baited  a 
couple  of  fishing-lines  with  a  fragment  of  the  stag's  liver ; 
and  while  I  held  them  with  either  hand,  Mr.  Howard 
prepared  the  fire  for  cooking  our  repast. 


266 


BROILING  TROUT. 


One  by  one,  I  caught  four  magnificent  trout,  and  I  was 
beginning  to  enjoy  this  new  kind  of  sporty  when  Mr. 
Howard  hailed  me,  to  rejoin  him  with  the  results  of  my 
angling. 

The  trout  were  handed  over  to  Monai,  who  removed 
their  scales,  gutted  them,  and  splitting  them  open  from 


Ilillll^ilillMllilB 


I   WAS   BEGINNING   TO   ENJOY   THIS   NEW   KIND   OF   SPORT. 


head  to  tail,  spitted  them  on  a  wooden  skewer,  four  other 
twigs,  placed  crosswise,  keeping  them  open  like  a  fan. 
On  a  glowing  fire,  over  which  some  slices  of  venison  were 
roasting,  we  placed  the  trout  thus  prepared.  Afterwards, 
we  spread  beneath  some  pieces  of  bread  on  a  couple  of 
stones  to  catch  the  fat  of  the  succulent  fish.  In  due  time 
the  repast  was  ready;  and  I  was  calling  the  Indian  to 
take  his  share,  when  Mr.  Howard  said, — 

"  Do  not  lose  your  time  in  inviting  Monai,  who  takes 
his  food  only  once  a  day,  and  never  drinks  except  at  that 


A  JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES.         .  267 

solitary  meal.     But  as  we  are  not  accustomed   to  such 
sobriety,  let  us  fall  to." 

And,  seating  himself  on  the  trunk  of*  a  prostrate  tree, 
he  eagerly  attacked  the  good  things  set  before  him. 

I  must  here  confess,  apart  from  the  fact  that  hunger  is 
the  best  sauce,  that  the  deer-steaks  and  the  trout  were 
worthy  of  the  table  of  the  most  fastidious  epicure.  It 
was  with  difficulty  Jack  could  obtain  a  few  fragments  of 
the  dinner  to  appease  his  hunger ;  fortunately,  he  did  not 
dislike  raw  meat,  and  Monai  cut  for  him  two  or  three 
large  slices,  which  more  than  satisfied  his  wants.  A  pipe 
of  Indian  tobacco  brought  our  banquet  to  a  satisfactory 
termination,  and  we  stretched  ourselves  on  the  ground, 
waiting  until  Monai  had  finished  cutting  up  the  stag. 

Mr.  Howard  and  myself  had  enjoyed  in  this  way  about 
three-quarters  of  an  hour^s  rest,  when  Monai  advanced 
towards  us,  drawing  with  a  leather  thong  a  sledge  on 
which  he  had  deposited  all  the  venison.  Not  only  had 
the  Indian  flayed  the  animal,  and  wrapped  up  in  the  skin 
all  the  portions  he  had  selected  for  our  use,  but  he  had 
also  constructed,  in  less  than  an  hour,  the  sledge  which 
carried  them ;  and  the  rude  vehicle  was  so  substantial 
that  it  was  capable  of  bearing  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  of  meat. 

We  continued  our  route ;  but  did  not  reach  the  country 
where  we  expected  to  find  our  cariboos  until  the  sun  was 
on  the  point  of  disappearing  below  the  horizon. 

The  region  into  which  we  had  penetrated  was  covered 
with  wood.  In  front  of  us  rose  a  lofty  mountain,  and  in 
the  valley  beneath  our  feet  flowed,  over  a  bed  of  rock,  a 
torrent  whose  waters  boiled  like  those  of  a  thermal  spring. 

Everywhere  upon  the  snow  the  ordure  of  the  deer  was 


268  A  HUNTING  RENDEZVOUS. 

visible,  and  Mr.  Howard,  pointing  to  a  broad  mark  on 
the  frozen  ground,  said, — 

"  As  this  is  the  first  time  you  have  seen  a  cariboo's 
track,  please  remember  that  it  resembles  that  of  a  bull's 
hoof — is  as  large  and  as  heavy  ;  and  when  you  catch  sight 
of  the  gigantic  animal,  I  promise  you  a  pleasure  which 
will  repay  you  for  all  your  fatigue." 

After  a  series  of  marches  and  counter-marches,  or 
rather  of  glissades  upon  the  snow,  we  arrived  at  a  cabin 
-which  had  been  constructed  many  years  before  as  a 
hunting  rendezvous  for  Mr.  Howard  and  Monai.  It  was 
square  built,  and  consisted  of  trees  placed  one  upon  an- 
other, and  maintained  in  this  horizontal  position  by  poles 
or  posts,  outside  and  inside,  thrust  deep  into  the  earth. 
The  roof,  also  formed  of  trunks  of  trees  in  a  slanting 
position,  was  covered,  like  the  sides  of  the  hut,  with  bark 
and  plastered  mud. 

This  log-cabin,  though  uninhabited,  was  in  a  capital 
condition,  and  the  thick  snow-covering  which  enveloped 
it  rendered  it  a  very  comfortable  abode.  Monai  soon 
cleared  the  entrance,  swept  out  the  interior,  and  lit,  in  a 
rude  kind  of  chimney,  where  the  fireplace  consisted  of 
rough  stones  untouched  by  a  workman's  hammer,  a  blaz- 
ing fire  which  recruited  our  stiffened  and  weary  limbs. 
While  the  Indian  was  thus  engaged,  Mr.  Howard  and 
myself  cut  up  a  supply  of  fuel,  and  cut  down  some  cedar 
boughs  for  the  mattresses  on  which  we  were  to  pass  the 
night.  Upon  this  improvised  litter  we  spread  our 
woollen  wrappers ;  and  I  can  assure  my  readers  it  made  a 
by  no  means  uncomfortable  bed. 

Twilight  gave  place  to  darkness  ;  Monai  lighted  a  torch 
of  resin,  and  fixed  it  in  one  corner  of  the  hut ;  our  sup- 


A  MUSICAL  HUNTER.  269 

per  was  speedily  devoured,  and  soon  afterwards,  with  onr 
feet  before  the  fire,  and  our  heads  wrapped  in  our  cover- 
lets, we  were  all  three  snoring  our  loudest. 

Two  hours  before  dawn  I  was  aroused  by  Mona'i,  who 
was  making  his  preparations  for  the  hunt.  The  door  of 
the  log-cabin  was  open,  and  from  my  bed  of  cedars  I 
could  perceive  a  cloudless  sky,  and  the  star  of  morning 
glittering  on  the  horizon.  The  air  was  very  keen ;  but 
as  there  was  not  a  breath  of  wind,  the  cold  was  endur- 
able. With  a  single  bound  I  arose ;  and,  thanks  to  the 
water  of  a  spring  which  I  heard  murmuring  at  the  foot 
of  a  gigantic  pine,  a  few  paces  from  the  hut,  I  speedily 
recovered  from  the  stiffness  which  one  always  feels  after 
sleeping  in  one's  clothes.  I  felt  so  fresh  and  lively,  that, 
without  thinking,  I  began  to  sing  aloud, — 

*'  Amis,  la  matinee  est  belle  I" 

But  I  had  scarcely  terminated  this  first  line  before  Mr. 
Howard,  rushing  headlong  from  the  hut,  cried  to  me,  in 
a  terrible  voice, — 

*^  Hold  your  tongue,  simpleton  !  Silence  !  You  will 
set  our  game  flying  though  they  may  be  two  leagues  ofi* ! 
The  cariboos  have  as  fine  an  ear  as  the  hares  of  Europe, 
and  their  instinct  is  much  greater  than  that  of  a  fox.'' 

Monai,  on  his  part,  murmured  a  malediction  on  my 
maladroitness,  in  his  own  language,  which  only  Mr.  How- 
ard could  comprehend. 

The  breakfast  was  excellent  and  abundant ;  so  our 
strength  was  doubled,  and  we  hastened  to  don  our  snow- 
shoes.     The  rays  of  the  sun  streamed  on  the  horizon 


270         ON  THE  TRACK  OF  THE  CARIBOO. 

tlirough  the  dense  morning  mist,  which  they  gradually 
dissipated.  We  all  three  set  out,  observing  the  most 
profound  silence ;  and  I  think,  to  speak  the  truth,  that 
nothing  was  audible  but  the  beating  of  my  own  heart,  so 
much  was  I  moved  at  the  idea  of  encountering  that  mar- 
vellous animal,  the  king  of  the  North  American  forests. 
The  aspect  of  the  landscape  through  which  we  advanced 
was  admirably  majestic ;  the  motionlessness  of  Nature 
was  only  disturbed  by  the  leaping  of  the  squirrels  and  the 
flight  of  pies  and  crows.  At  each  step  we  encountered 
the  track  of  the  cariboos  j  but,  without  halting,  Mr. 
Howard  and  myself  followed  Monai,  to  whom  we  had 
abandoned  the  direction  of  the  chase. 

We  soon  arrived  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  mountain,  and 
there  Monai,  turning  towards  us,  informed  us  in  a  low 
voice  that  we  were  approaching  the  spot  frequented  by 
the  cariboos,  who  were  pasturing  in  the  sunshine.  The 
Indian  recommended  us  anew  to  observe  a  profound 
silence,  and  we  advanced  in  his  trail.  A  few  steps 
further  on  we  found  some  dung,  which  was  completely 
fresh.  Monai  informed  us  that  an  animal  had  passed 
only  two  hours  before ;  and  taking  a  direction  contrary 
to  the  wind,  which  blew  for  a  few  moments,  he  conducted 
us  to  a  basse-cour,  where  the  cariboos  had  taken  shelter 
during  the  night,  for  we  could  see,  all  around  a  few 
stunted  cedars,  a  space  which  had  been  trampled  down 
by  many  feet.  Mr.  Howard,  thrusting  his  hand  into  the 
snow,  asserted  that  it  was  still  warm,  and  that  the  cariboos 
who  had  halted  there  could  not  be  far  distant. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 


THE  CARIBOO — continued. 


UK  first  care  now  was  to  put  fresh  caps  to  our 
guns;  Mr.  Howard  next  fastened  a  cord  to 
his  dog's  neck,  to  hold  him  in  leash.  The 
excrement  of  the  game  whom  we  were  pur- 
suing was  scattered  about  us  in  every  direction;  and 
without  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  habits  of  the  cari- 
boos, it  would  have  been  difficult  to  select  the  true 
track. 

It  was  Monai  who  extricated  us  from  our  embarrass- 
ment. After  a  few  minutes'  careful  examination,  the 
Indian  made  us  a  sign  to  follow  him,  and  we  advanced 
with  the  greatest  precaution.  Casting  a  glance  on  the 
marks  in  front  of  me,  I  remarked  that  wherever  the  snow 
had  been  trodden  down  by  the  animals'  feet,  it  had  a 


272  A  DISAGREEABLE  SITUATION. 

bluish  tint,  and  was  friable  as  meal ;  it  was  therefore  cer- 
tain that  we  were  drawing  near  the  cariboos. 

Monai  suddenly  halted,  and  nimbly  kneeling,  unlaced 
the  strings  which  fastened  his  snow-shoes  to  his  feet,  so 
as  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible  in  walking. 

Mr.  Howard,  turning  towards  me,  made  a  sign  that  I 
should  approach  him,  and  whispered  in  my  ear, — 

*^  My  dear  friend,  I  have  one  last  hint  to  give  you  :  don't 
lose  sight  of  me  ;  keep  within  a  couple  of  paces  ;  and,  above 
all,  don't  make  any  noise.    The  cariboos  are  close  at  hand." 

Simultaneously  each  threw  his  snow-shoes  over  his 
shoulders.  Monai,  resting  his  right  foot  on  the  snow, 
softly  plunged  it  in,  and  then  did  the  same  with  his  left. 
Mr.  Howard  placed  his  feet  in  the  same  holes,  and  I 
scrupulously  imitated  my  two  hunting  companions. 

Any  one  who  had  been  in  front  of  us,  and  saw  us  ap- 
proaching, would  have  taken  us  for  one  man,  our  move- 
ments were  so  identical  and  uniform. 

Certainly  our  situation  was  anything  but  agreeable,  for 
we  sank  up  to  our  middle  in  the  snow;  but  the  ardour  of 
the  sport  prevented  us  from  paying  any  attention  to  such 
minor  miseries.  Monai,  who  led  the  march,  and  whose 
eagle  eyes  penetrated  into  the  sombre  depths  of  the  forest, 
suddenly  threw  himself  flat  on  his  face  :  he  remained  so 
long  in  this  position,  which,  at  his  example,  we  had  also 
adopted,  that  I  thought  myself  authorized  to  raise  my 
head  and  see  what  was  going  on. 

The  Indian,  who  appeared  to  notice  everything,  cast  a 
threatening  glance  in  my  direction ;  and  Mr.  Howard 
dealt  me  a  kick  which  disagreeably  convinced  me  that  I 
had  been  guilty  of  an  error. 


ON  THE  WATCH.  273 

The  forest,  on  whose  margin  we  had  arrived,  was 
bordered  by  an  extent  of  ground  denuded  of  all  vegeta- 
tion, and  Monai,  who  had  sighted  a  cariboo,  endeavoured 
to  reach,  without  being  seen,  the  trunk  of  a  many-branched 
cedar  well  adapted  for  a  shelter,  and  in  whose  rear  it 
might  be  possible  to  aim  at  the  animal.  To  see  him  drag 
himself  along  on  his  belly,  you  would  have  taken  him  for 
a  serpent ;  and  Mr.  Howard  and  I  conscientiously  sought 
to  imitate  all  his  wrigglings  in  the  most  sympathetic 
manner. 

At  length,  in  my  turn,  I  caught  sight  of  the  cariboos. 
Before  us  was  a  troop  of  twenty  animals,  some  biting  the 
bark  off  the  trees,  and  others  performing  their  morning 
toilette,  smoothing  their  hair  with  their  tongues,  and 
combing  it  with  their  antlers.  All,  with  the  exception, 
perhaps,  of  the  largest  animal  in  the  herd,  seemed  unsus- 
picious of  the  approach  of  their  enemies.  This  male 
cariboo  had  an  unquiet  air ;  he  held  his  head  erect,  threw 
all  around  him  a  suspicious  glance,  moved  his  ears  to  and 
fro,  opened  his  nostrils,  and  violently  sniffed  the  wind. 
Monai  did  not  lose  sight  of  him ;  he  advanced  only  when 
tho  cariboo  turned  aside  his  head,  and  in  every  respect 
wo  followed  all  his  movements.  Every  hunter  reading 
my  faithful  narrative  will  understand  how  my  heart  beat 
with  emotion  during  these  few  minutes,  which  seemed  to 
me  as  long  as  years. 

At .  last  we  arrived  behind  the  tree.  Mr.  Howard, 
barely  moving  his  lips,  made  me  understand  that  I  was 
to  aim  at  the  cariboo  who  was  foremost  in  the  troop  on 
my  own  side  :  he  himself  would  single  out  the  large 
animal,  distant  about  ninety  paces  from  us ;  as  for  Mo- 
(4H)  18 


274  THE  TABLES  TURNED. 

nai,  he  would  reserve  his  fire,  to  come,  if  necessary,  to 
my  assistance. 

We  fired  simultaneously,  and,  without  thinking,  I  rose 
to  see  the  result  of  my  skill ;  but  Monai,  seizing  me  with 
a  hand  of  iron,  abruptly  threw  me  down  on  the  snow. 
When  I  raised  my  head,  I  saw  the  animal  at  which  Mr. 
Howard  had  levelled  his  rifle  trampling  the  snow,  and 
endeavouring,  with  angry  eyes,  to  discover  the  place 
where  his  enemies  lay  concealed.  While  contemplating 
his  immense  antlers,  his  size  and  strength,  I  began  to 
think  of  the  danger  we  were  incurring. 

At  the  same  time,  Monai',  resting  his  carbine  on  one  of 
the  branches  of  our  protecting  tree,  slowly  took  aim  at 
the  cariboo,  and  let  go  the  trigger  :  alas !  the  cap  missed 
fire,  and  the  cariboo,  thus  made  aware  of  the  place  of  our 
ambuscade,  dashed  towards  us,  belling*  with  frightful 
energy.  To  defend  ourselves  against  the  furious  animal, 
or  to  attempt  to  escape  him  by  flight,  was  impossible, 
considering  that  we  were  buried  up  to  the  waist  in  snow. 
I  was  expecting  to  feel  the  antlers  of  the  cariboo  tickling 
my  ribs,  when  Mr.  Howard's  brave  dog  sprang  forward, 
and  seized  him  by  the  lips.  Meanwhile,  Monai  and  Mr. 
Howard  used  every  exertion  to  readjust  their  snow-shoes 
to  their  feet ;  as  for  myself,  less  skilful  than  they,  my 
hands  were  almost  paralyzed  by  the  emotion  of  the  danger 
and  the  novelty  of  the  chase.  Happily  for  us,  Jack  had 
not  let  go  his  hold  of  the  animal,  which  he  embarrassed 
rather  than  retained;  so,  shaking  his  monstrous  head, 
the  cariboo  dashed  the  dog  on  the  snow  and  against  the 
branches  of  the  tree.     It  seemed  as  if  he  would  beat  Jack 

*  A  technical  term  for  the  noise  made  by  deer. 


DEATH  OF  THE  CARIBOO.  275 

into  a  jelly ;  but  the  latter,  spite  of  the  pain  he  suflfered, 
would  not  relax  his  grasp. 

While  this  skirmish  took  place  between  the  two  beasts, 
who,  by  their  size,  reminded  me  of  the  fable  of  the  lion 
and  the  fly,  Monai  endeavoured  to  hamstring  the  cariboo. 
The  Indian  had  been  seen  by  the  animal,  who,  wheeling 
round  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  darted  upon  him, 
and  would  have  killed  him  on  the  spot,  if  his  antlers  had 
not  missed  their  aim.  But  Monai  threw  himself  on  his 
face,  and  escaped  with  a  slight  wound  in  the  shoulder 
from  the  cariboo's  heels.  Mr.  Howard  meantime  had 
reloaded  his  rifle ;  but  his  powder  was  wet,  and  would  not 
catch  fire. 

Thanks  to  repeated  exertions,  the  cariboo  shook  ofl* 
Jack,  and  once  more  rushed  upon  Monai.  The  latter, 
while  the  dog  again  plunged  his  claws  into  the  animaFs 
neck,  sustained  the  shock,  and  seizing  the  cariboo  by  the 
antlers,  contrived  to  fling  him  upon  the  snow.  Mr. 
Howard  immediately  leapt  forward,  knife  in  hand,  and 
plunged  it  up  to  the  handle  in  the  breast  of  the  colossal 
beast. 

In  one  supreme  efibrt  the  noble  animal  hurled  Monai 
over  his  head ;  then,  falling  back  upon  the  ground,  ren- 
dered his  last  breath  with  an  agony  that  chilled  the  soul. 

As  I  have  already  confessed,  an  invincible  terror  had 
chained  my  hands  and  fettered  my  feet  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  struggle :  I  had  not  even  the  sang-froid 
necessary  for  refastening  my  snow-shoes  and  reloading 
my  rifle ;  nevertheless,  I  can  permit  no  one  to  turn  me 
into  ridicule,  except  those  of  my  fraternity  who  may 
once  in  their  lives  have  found  themselves  buried  undei 


276  THE  WOUNDED  REDSKIN. 

the  snow  in  the  presence  of  a  furious  cariboo,   whose 
antlers  threatened  inevitable  death. 

At  length  we  found  it  possible  to  approach  the  king 
of  the  forest,  who  lay  prostrate  at  our  feet.  Mr.  How- 
ard's bullet  had  struck  him  in  the  shoulder,  and  under 
no  circumstances  could  he  have  lived. 

"  Hallo,"  cried  Mr.  Howard,  addressing  Monai,  who 
was  stretched  on  his  back,  "  are  you  wounded,  Red- 
skin ]" 

"  The  cariboo  is  strong,"  replied  the  Indian,  "  but  man 
is  stronger  than  he.  Friend,  apply  to  the  wound  a  little 
of  this  pine-tree  resin,  and  I  shall  be  cured." 

Obeying  his  injunction,  Mr.  Howard  spread  some  of 
this  new  remedy  on  a  handkerchief  folded  in  four,  and 
having  stanched  the  flowing  blood,  he  made  the  plaster 
adhere  to  the  skin. 

^^  What  has  become  of  your  cariboo'?"  he  said  to  me, 
while  bandaging  the  Indian  ;  "  did  you  hit  it  1" 

"  Yes,  undoubtedly :  I  wager  my  rifle  against  the 
rustiest  old  musket  in  the  United  States  that  the  animal 
is  badly  wounded." 

"  See,  Jack  has  caught  the  scent,  and  is  off*  and  away  ! 
Hurry  on  your  snow-shoes,  and  follow  him  :  the  blood 
will  guide  you  as  well  as  the  furrow  of  a  sledge.  If  you 
get  within  range  of  the  animal,  don't  fire  unless  you  can 
get  a  good  aim.  As  for  me,  I  will  soon  follow  you,  but 
I  must  see  that  Monai  is  not  dangerously  hurt.  I  must 
also  dry  my  rifle ;  but  take  things  calmly,  I  will  not  long 
delay.     Off*,  off*,  my  friend  !"  ^ 

I  darted  forward  eagerly,  following  up  the  bloody 
mark  which  had  enabled  Jack  to  take  up  the  trail.     The 


A  FAIRY  CASCADE.  277 

farther  I  advanced  the  more  plainly  I  saw  that  the 
cariboo  had  slackened  his  course,  and  had  several  times 
fallen  to  the  ground.  My  self-love  was  engaged  in 
bringing  down  my  cariboo  before  Mr.  Howard  and  Monai 
rejoined  me  :  I  flew  over  the  snow,  until  I  was  arrested 
on  the  bank  of  a  torrent  of  fresh  water  where  the  frost 
had  taken  no  hold.  There  I  lost  all  trace  of  the  cariboo ; 
but  Jack's  paws  pointed  out  the  road  I  was  to  follow, 
and  soon  I  heard  distinctly  the  gallant  dog's  repeated 
barking. 

The  current,  as  I  advanced,  became  more  rapid,  and 
its  waters,  pent  up  between  two  elevated  rocks,  suddenly 
disappeared  in  an  abyss,  forming  a  cascade  one  hundred 
feet  in  height.  Beyond  the  seething  caldron  of  this  pic- 
turesque fall  the  stream  had  frozen  hard  ;  along  its  banks 
the  water,  flung  up  in  spray,  was  transformed  into  beds 
of  ice,  and  at  the  extremity  of  the  pine  branches  which 
flourished  on  the  rocks  glittered  icy  stalactites  of  the  most 
fantastic  aspect.  Beneath  the  cascade  the  water  leaped 
on  high  in  a  sheaf  of  foam,  forming  a  dense  mist,  which,  as 
soon  as  it  fell  back  on  the  liquid  surface,  was  immediately 
metamorphosed  into  little  drops.  The  rays  of  the  sun 
piercing  the  obscurity,  gave  to  each  detail  of  this  marvel 
of  nature  a  sparkling  golden  tint.  Moreover,  the  ice 
surrounding  the  cascade  was  so  transparent  that  the  eye 
could  perceive  the  golden  sand  at  the  bottom  of  the  water, 
and  detect  the  rapidity  of  the  current. 

Ten  feet  above  the  semicircle  formed  by  the  cascade, 
on  an  isolated  rock  which  rose  in  the  middle  of  the  waters, 
the  cariboo  whom  I  had  wounded  had  sought  refuge. 
The  current  around  him  swirled  so  impetuously,  that,  if 
his  foot  had  slipped,  he  would  have  been  carried  away 


278 


A  ROMANTIC  SPECTACLE. 


and  dashed  below  the  cascade.     Jack,  my  faithful  dog, 
had  not  deemed  it  prudent  to  attack  the  animal  in  his 

dangerous  entrenchment ;  but 
as  my  arrival,  and  the  ex- 
citement under  which  he  was 
labouring,  would  probably 
have  induced  him  to  brave 
the  danger,  I  fastened  a  cord 
round  liis  neck,  and  tied  him 
up  to  a  tree. 

The  cariboo  had  truly  chos- 
en an  unapproachable  refuge, 
where  no  living  being  could 
safely  attack  him :  on  each 
side  of  his  position  rose  per- 
pendicular palisades,  between 
which  the  stream  was  forcing 
a  passage;  and  before  him, 
the  yawning  precipice  seemed 
to  await  a  victim. 

After  I  had  sufficiently  ad- 
mired this  romantic  spectacle, 
I  which   was  well  adapted  to 
i  affect  the  mind  and  heart  of 
^^^^  a  European,  I  approached  as 
-^e^";^  near  as  the  ruggedness  of  the 
^  ground  permitted.     Immedi- 
f  ately  the  cariboo  caught  sight 
5.-^  of  1^®  1^^   raised    his    head, 
"  HAVING  TAKEN  AIM,  I  FIRED."     crowned     wlth     magnificcnt 
antlers,  shook  it  with  rage,  and  seemed  to  defy  me  to  the 
combat.     Thus  placed,  he  ])resented  to  my  eye  his  chest, 


SHOOTING  THE  CARIBOO.  279 

broad  as  that  of  a  bull.  I  say  it  witliout  any  false 
shame,  I  felt  at  ease  now  that  I  was  separated  from  my 
formidable  enemy  by  unconquerable  obstacles  ;  for  I  have 
not  the  slightest  hesitation  in  asserting  my  belief  that,  if 
it  had  been  in  his  power  to  cross  the  distance  which  sepa- 
rated us,  he  would  have  precipitated  himself  upon  me 
with  a  desperate  rage.  Besides,  as  my  readers  have  seen 
already  in  the  course  of  my  narrative,  I  was  not  a  suf- 
ficiently skilful  skater  to  have  avoided  his  pursuit,  in- 
asmuch as  my  snow-shoes  impeded  rather  than  accelerated 
my  progress. 

It  was  necessary,  then,  to  terminate  once  for  all  any 
longings  of  the  cariboo  to  attack  me,  and  the  apprehen- 
sion which  he  inspired.  Therefore,  I  loaded  my  carbine, 
and  after  having  taken  aim  with  the  utmost  precision,  I 
fired.  My  bullet  hit  him  between  the  eyes  ;  the  cariboo 
was  dead.  With  a  last  effort  he  bounded  forward,  and 
falling  over  the  brink  of  the  rock,  disappeared  in  the 
current,  which  dragged  him  down  the  cascade. 

A  moment  afterwards  I  saw  his  immense  body  reappear 
on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  whirl  around  and  among 
the  masses  encircling  the  borders  of  the  abyss,. 

''Well  hit  !"  cried  Mr.  Howard,  who  had  arrived  in 
time  to  see  the  result  of  my  shot ;  *'  let  us  make  haste  to 
descend,  and  get  hold  of  our  game." 

After  a  tolerably  long  circuit  we  arrived  in  the  valley 
at  the  foot  of  the  cascade,  but,  to  our  great  astonishment, 
the  animal  had  disappeared. 

*'  Forward  !  forward  ! "  shouted  my  host ;  "  see,  the  dog 
will  be  our  guide  :  he  has  started  alongside  the  stream." 

Five  minutes  later,  we  perceived  the  cariboo  floating 
down  the  current,  and  Jack,  who  had  flung  himself  into 


280  A  poet's  description. 

the  water,  making  marvellous  eiforts  to  bring  ashore  his 
prey,  which  he  held  by  one  ear.  Mr.  Howard,  not  losing 
a  moment,  ran  forward,  and  with  his  hatchet  cut  down 
the  trunk  of  a  tree  growing  on  the  bank,  in  such  a  maimer 
that  it  fell  across  the  stream.  By  means  of  this  obstacle 
we  were  able  to  seize  on  the  cariboo. 

^'  It  grows  late,  my  friend,"  said  Mr.  Howard ;  '^  and 
as  it  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  carry  away  our  game  this 
evening,  we  must  make  some  arrangement  to  prevent  the 
wolves  from  devouring  it.  To  work  !  Let  us  cut  out 
the  entrails,  and  hang  the  body  to  this  branch,  out  of  the 
reach  of  all  intruders." 

This  was  done  almost  as  soon  as  said ;  and  leaving  the 
cariboo  safe  from  all  attack,  we  resumed  the  road  to  the 
log-cabin,  lighted  by  the  moon  and  by  the  gleani  of  stars, 
which  shone  like  diamonds. 

Monai  had  anticipated  us  :  with  a  hastily  built  up 
sledge  he  had  hauled  away  the  cariboo  killed  by  Mr. 
Howard,  and  the  animal's  skull  and  antlers  appeared 
above  the  doorway  of  our  hut,  the  glorious  trophy  of  a 
magnificent  chase  ! 

[As  a  relief  to  M.  Revoil's  narrative,  we  may  quote 
Longfellow's  animated  description  of  '^  hunting  the  deer," 
from  his  poem  of  "  Hiawatha  "  : — 

"  Hidden  in  the  alder-bushes, 
There  he  waited  till  the  deer  came, 
Till  he  saw  two  antlers  lifted, 
Saw  two  eyes  look  from  the  thicket, 
Saw  two  nostrils  point  to  windward, 
And  a  deer  came  down  the  pathway, 
Flecked  with  leafy  light  and  shadow; 
And  his  heart  within  him  fluttered, 
Trembled  like  the  leaves  above  him, 
Like  the  birch-leaf  palpitated, 
As  the  deer  came  down  the  pathway. 


QUOTATION  FROM  LONGFELLOW. 


281 


Then,  upon  one  knee  uprising, 
Hiawatha  aimed  an  arrow  ; 
Scarce  a  twig  moved  with  his  motion, 
Scarce  a  leaf  was  stirred  or  rustled, 
But  the  wary  roebuck  started, 
Stamped  with  all  his  hoofs  together, 
Listened  with  one  foot  uplifted. 
Leaped  as  if  to  meet  the  arrow ; 
Ah  !  the  singing,  fatal  arrow. 
Like,  a  wasp  it  buzzed  and  stung  him.' 


C>'^     >-C 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


THE  GRISLY  BEAR. 


HE  life  of  an  Indian  hunter  is  daily  broken  up 
by  feats  of  daring,  which,  to  be  faithfully 
described,  would  need  the  pen  of  a  Cooper. 
The  different  tribes  of  these  children  of  the 
desert  have  each  their  hero,  famous  for  a  courage  and 
skill  of  which  he  has  given  proof  in  various  ways — the 
one  by  the  intelligence  with  which  he  followed  up  an 
enemy's  trail,  the  other  by  the  number  of  wild  animals  he 
has  killed.  To  be  a  great  hunter  is  to  hold  a  high  posi- 
tion, an  elevated  rank,  among  the  Indians  ;  in  the  eyes  of 
these  peoples  it  is  a  title  almost  equivalent  to  that  of 
''  prince  "  in  Europe ;  and  the  exploits  which  have  pro- 
cured him  tlie  dignity  are  for  him,  as  it  is  for  us,  civilized 
men,  a  trophy  composed  of  the  decorations  of  all  the  king- 
doms and  empires  of  the  universe. 


AN  INDIAN  HUNTER.  283 

[It  is  true,  however,  that  much  of  the  glory  of  the  Indian 
hunter  has  departed.  Not  only  are  wild  beasts  becoming 
scarcer  in  the  North  American  forests,  but  the  waste  and 
the  wilderness  are  rapidly  disappearing  before  the  steady 
advance  of  civilization.  Many  of  the  Indian  tribes  have 
abandoned  a  nomadic  life,  and  no  longer  trust  for  their 
support  to  the  products  of  the  chase  or  of  fishing  :  they 
live  in  the  towns,  adopting  various  occupations,  or  cluster 
together  in  the  neighbouring  villages,  tilling  the  ground 
after  the  white  man's  fashion.  And  where  the  passion 
for,  and  the  necessity  of,  hunting  still  exists,  the  intro- 
duction of  the  rifle  and  gunpowder  has  taken  away  so 
much  of  the  excitement  of  the  sport  as  formerly  arose 
from  its  evident  danger.  To  confront  a  bison  with  a  gun 
that  will  kill  at  two  hundred  or  three  hundred  yards  is  a 
very  different  matter  from  facing  it  with  bow  and  arrow 
that  will  not  prove  fatal  at  more  than  half  that  distance. 
We  have  already  quoted  from  Longfellow's  ''  Hiawatha." 
The  reader  will  remember,  perhaps,  the  picture  of  an 
Indian  hunter  given  in  that  charming  poem  : — 

**  He  could  shoot  ten  arrows  upward, 
Shoot  them  with  such  strength  and  swiftness, 
That  the  tenth  had  left  the  bow-string 
Ere  the  first  to  earth  had  fallen  ! . . . . 

From  his  lodge  went  Hiawatha, 
Dressed  for  travel,  armed  for  hunting  ; 
Dressed  in  deer-skin  shirt  and  leggings. 
Richly  wrought  with  quills  and  wampum  ; 
On  his  head  his  eagle-feathers, 
Round  his  waist  the  belt  of  wampum. 
In  his  hand  his  bow  of  ash-wood, 
Strung  with  sinews  of  the  reindeer  ; 
In  his  quiver  oaken  arrows. 
Tipped  with  jasper,  winged  with  feathers." 

It  may  safely  be  said  that  such  a  picture  is  now  impossible, 
and  that  the  Indian  hunter  of  to-day,  compared  with  this 


284  FIRST  OF  THE  "  BRAVES." 

romantic  personage,  is  a  very  prosaic  and  commonplace 
individual.] 

Still,  it  must  be  owned  that  the  plains  and  woods  of 
North  America  still  afford  ample  scope  for  the  exercise, 
on  a  moderate  scale,  of  the  hunter's  craft.  Under  the 
zone  where  the  tribe  of  the  Osages  is  located — in  the  38th 
parallel  of  latitude,  and  the  1 9th  meridian  of  longitude — 
the  hunter  still  meets,  and  not  infrequently,  with  the 
grisly  bear,  the  most  formidable  animal  in  the  North 
American  forests,  who  shows  himself  insensible  to  the 
pain  of  a  severe  wound,  and  whose  strength  is  so  great 
that  he  crushes  like  a  grain  of  sand  the  enemy  who  falls 
into  his  deadly  grasp.  The  Indian  warriors,  whatever 
the  tribe  to  which  they  belong,  in  the  regions  haunted  by 
the  grisly  bear,  regard  his  claws  as  the  fittest  and  noblest 
ornament  for  a  muscular  neck.  This  ornament,  added  to 
the  feather  of  an  eagle  shot  while  flying,  which  the  Red- 
skin fastens  in  the  centre  of  the  tuft  of  hair,  raised  above 
his  head  and  tied  up  so  as  to  resemble  a  helmet,  gives 
him  a  bold  and  daring  mien,  and  entitles  him  to  a  place  in 
the  first  rank  of  the  '^  braves." 

The  fire  lighted  in  the  shelter  of  a  rocky  crag,  around 
which  the  Indians  assemble  at  the  evening  watch,  does 
not  glow  more  brightly  than  the  astonishing  spirit  dis- 
played by  this  primitive  race  of  men  in  the  narration  of 
their  exploits.  While  listening  to  their  wild,  fierce 
stories  one  finds  the  hours  glide  by  with  surprising 
rapidity,  and  the  time  of  repose  always  arrives  too  quickly. 
Yery  frequently,  in  the  course  of  this  exciting  talk,  an 
old  sachem  who,  during  the  day,  has  not  uttered  ten  words 
successively,  suddenly  recovers  his  speech,  babbles  like  a 


INDIAN  STORIES.  285 

woman, '^  and  gradually  increases  in  animation  as  lio 
relates  the  incidents  of  his  stirring  life.  No  story  of  the 
chase  can  be  compared  to  an  Indian  brave's  account  of  a 
combat  with  his  great  enemy,  the  Grisly.  The  death  of 
a  foeman  on  the  field  of  battle  becomes  comparatively  a 
flat  and  uninteresting  subject  if  related  after  this  moving 
adventure. 

We  Europeans,  accustomed  to  the  modern  hunts, — the 
most  dangerous  of  which  is  against  the  boar,  tearing  and 
rending  with  his  tusks  every  obstacle  that  falls  in  his  way  : 
trees,  men,  and  dogs, — are  little  inclined  to  accredit  these 
perilous  attacks,  are  little  able  to  understand  these  emo- 
tions which  so  agitate  the  heart  as  to  make  it  throb  like  a 
timid  girl's ;  and  in  our  scepticism  we  are  always  tempted 
to  regard  as  a  fiction  any  fact  which  rises  above  the  dull 
level  of  our  hunting  experience. 

Reposing  in  the  rude  tent  of  the  Kedskins,  I  have  often 
listened  to  the  stories  told  by  men,  who,  surrounded  by 
the  vastness  of  seemingly  boundless  plains,  living  in  the 
midst  of  apparently  interminable  forests,  compared  with 
whose  aged  giants  the  tallest  trees  of  Europe  are  but  as 
pygmies,  have  no  need  to  deepen  the  shadows  of  the 
picture  to  bring  its  beauties  into  brighter  relief.  The 
reality  is  too  sublime  and  too  terrible  for  exaggeration. 
For  the  very  reason  that  the  Indian  has  not  profited  by 
civilization,  he  has  not  been  sullied  by  it.  For  me,  ex- 
aggeration and  braggadocio  are  proofs  of  feebleness,  and 
these  two  signs  of  degeneracy  have  not  yet  penetrated 
into  the  midst  of  the  North  American  prairies. 

*  [This  uncourteous  comparison  is  the  author's,  not  the  translator's.] 


286  SINGULAR  INSIGHT  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  hunter,  whether  white  or  copper- 
coloured,  possesses  by  instinct  extraordinary  faculties  of 
sight  and  touch,  hearing  and  smelling,  and  these  are  daily 
more  and  more  developed  by  practice. 

An  unfortunate  blind  man  is  able,  by  the  organ  of 
touch,  to  recognize  his  food  and  clothing;  he  contrives 
to  divine  everything  which  is  of  value  and  importance  to 
him,  for  it  is  upon  this  single  sense  that  he  brings  to  bear 
all  the  powers  of  his  mind.  The  hunter  of  the  desert 
possesses  a  faculty  of  sight  rendered  so  keen  and  acute 
by  practice  that  the  lightest  trace  left  upon  the  leaves,  on 
the  bark  of  trees,  or  even  on  the  ground,  he  readily  and 
unerringly  detects ;  yet  these  signs,  to  any  other  person, 
would  be  as  imperceptible  as  the  course  of  a  bird's  wing  in 
space. 

It  is  this  singular  insight  which  guides  the  Indian  in 
his  warfare  against  his  fellows  or  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest ;  it  is  this  extraordinary  gift  of  divination  which, 
carried  to  its  highest  degree,  compels  the  "  pale-face  "  to 
proclaim  a  Redskin  the  notable  hunter  of  the  American 
wilderness;  for  the  best  of  all  hunters  is  he  who  can 
follow  up  the  least  perceptible  trail,  while,  so  far  as  he 
himself  is  concerned,  he  leaves  no  imprint  on  the  ground 
where  he  places  his  stealthy  feet. 

The  hunter  who  goes  forth  against  the  grisly  bear  can 
only  be  guided  by  sight,  and  yet  this  instinct  is  much 
more  certain  than  the  scent  of  a  pointer.  The  marks  of 
the  bear's  paws  upon  the  leaves, — the  broken  branches, — 
finally,  his  lair, — are  much  more  quickly  found  than  the 
animal  himself;  and  the  experienced  hunter  who  follows 
up  his  trail  can  describe  beforehand,  and  without  mistake, 
the  winial's  sex,  weight,  and  agp.     It  is  for  this  reason 


HABITS  OF  THE  GRISLY  BEAR.  287 

that  he  will  often  abandon  a  trail  because  it  is  that  of  a 
small-sized  beast ;  another,  because  it  is  that  of  a  bear 
with  young ;  or  yet  another,  because  the  animal  is  too 
fat,  and  his  flesh  would  be  unwholesome ;  and  finally  a 
fourth,  because  the  beast  is  not  worth  the  trouble  of  a 
pursuit.  It  is  this  knowledge,  in  my  opinion,  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  true  hunter  from  him  who  hunts  for  occa- 
sional amusement.  The  former  requires  no  assistance  in 
following  the  game,  while  the  second  can  do  nothing  with- 
out the  help  of  a  well-trained  dog. 

The  means  employed  in  America  for  destroying  the 
grisly  bears  are  perhaps  as  numerous  as  the  bears  them- 
selves. ]N"one  of  these  animals  can  be  attacked  by  an 
uniform  process;  and  this,  without  doubt,  it  is  which 
renders  them  so  dangerous  and  so  difficult  to  kill.  The 
device  which  has  once  succeeded  may,  a  second  time,  de- 
liver the  hunter  into  the  fatal  grip  of  his  adversary;  and 
it  is  needless  to  say  that  this  enormous  beast,  whose 
strength  is  so  great  that  he  can  carry  off  a  horse  to  his 
distant  den,  finds  in  the  stoutest  and  strongest  man  a 
mere  plaything  ! 

The  grisly  bears,  like  the  lion  and  the  tiger,  generally 
retire  during  the  day  to  their  secret  lairs.  Here,  in 
winter,  they  abandon  themselves  to  a  profound  slumber, 
which  is,  so  to  speak,  doubled  in  proportion  to  the  inten- 
sity of  the  frost.  They  select  their  retreats  at  the  end  of 
autumn,  and  do  not  quit  them  until  the  snows  are  melted, 
and  the  spring  has  revived  the  young  grass  of  the  prairies. 
It  sometimes  happens  that  one  of  these  recesses  is  inha- 
bited by  a  couple  of  bears,  but  this  is  a  rare  occurrence,  for 
the  unsocial  humour  of  these  quadrupeds  is  proverbial  in 


288  "the  man  of  the  woods." 

the  United  States ;  they  prefer  to  live  alone.  The  hunter 
arrives  in  front  of  the  bear's  retreat,  guided  either  by  his 
natural  instinct,  or  by  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired  of 
the  different  passes  of  the  forest.  Once  the  animal  is 
discovered,  he  prepares  to  attack  him  in  his  den,  without 
hesitation,  without  any  lingering  fear, — and  this  is  how 
he  proceeds : — 

But  a  word.  I  see  here,  with  my  mind's  eye,  my 
readers  trembling  at  the  idea  of  venturing  alone  into  the 
midst  of  the  chasms  of  the  rocks,  where  the  least  false  step, 
w^here  the  slightest  trembling,  may  deliver  them  over  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  a  gigantic  bear.  But  this  terror  is 
irrational  j  you  only  require  to  grow  accustomed  to  the 
hazard.  How  many  men  there  are  in  the  forests  of 
North  America  who  risk  this  hazardous  enterprise  with 
the  sole  object  of  amusing  themselves,  or  of  procuring  the 
materials  of  a  good  repast. 

The  first  thing  done  by  the  hunter  who  wishes  to 
attack  the  "  lion  in  his  lair,"  is  to  examine  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  den  whither  he  designs  to  penetrate.  He 
takes  due  account  of  the  animal's  isolation  or  sociability. 
In  the  latter  case,  if  the  bear  has  a  companion,  he  will 
leave  them  undisturbed.  The  Indian  recognizes  also  the 
size  and  age  of  the  animal,  the  date  at  which  he  took  up 
his  winter-quarters — and  this  perspicacity  of  divination 
is  one  of  the  most  astonishing  mysteries  of  the  natural 
knowledge  of  the  Indians.  The  European  hunter,  of 
whom  "  the  man  of  the  woods"  should  inquire  if  a  par- 
ticular cave  was  or  was  not  inhabited,  would  be  unable 
to  reply  either  affirmatively  or  negatively,  while,  on  th(^ 
contrary,  a  genuine  trapper  would  answer: — 

"  From  the  marks  left  by  the  animal  all  around  the 


A  DANGEROUS  ANTAGONIST.  289 

entrance  to  his  den,  I  am  sure  that  he  has  not  emerged 
from  it  for  the  last  three  months.  Observe  :  the  herbage 
is  not  bent  or  trodden  down — there  are  no  imprints  on 
the  soil.  I  am  persuaded  that  the  bear  is  in  his  retreat, 
for  the  marks  of  his  paws  all  point  towards  it.  He  is 
alone,  because  these  marks  are  regular,  and  alike  in  all 
points ;  from  the  size  of  his  feet  he  must  be  of  a  great 
size ;  and  I  am  sure  he  is  very  fat,  because  his  hind-paws 
do  not  join  the  imprints  of  his  fore-paws,  as  is  always  the 
case  with  a  lean  bear." 

Such  are  the  judicious  remarks  of  a  genuine  hunter ; 
and  mysterious  as  they  seem  when  one  does  not  under- 
stand them,  no  sooner  are  they  explained  than  one  sees 
with  what  skilfulness  Nature  has  taught  her  children. 

Why — the  reader,  perhaps,  will  inquire — why  is  the 
grisly  bear  so  formidable  to  a  company  of  hunters  en- 
countering him  in  the  heart  of  a  wood,  if,  when  he  is 
lurking  in  his  den,  he  is  so  little  to  be  feared  that  a 
single  hunter  will  attack  and  slay  him  1 

I  reply  that  in  the  latter  case  the  hunter  goes  in  search 
of  his  quarry,  in  the  darkness,  at  an  epoch  when  the  bear 
is  rendered  lethargic  by  the  cold,  and  consequently  he  is 
easily  surprised.  Certain  indispensable  precautions  must 
be  observed  to  insure  a  successful  issue  of  the  enterprise; 
and  if  these  are  neglected,  neither  rapidity  of  eye,  nor  cool- 
ness, nor  skill,  can  for  a  single  moment  protect  the  daring 
adventurer  who  disturbs  the  grisly  bear  in  his  hiding-place. 

As  soon  as  the  trapper  has  acquainted  himself  with  the 
locality  of  the  bear's  retreat,  he  provides  himself  with  a 
candle  made  of  common  wax  mixed  with  fat,  whose  wick 

(414)  19 


290  THE  BEAR  AND  THE  HUNTER. 

is  very  thick,  and  able  to  give  forth  a  steady  flame. 
Armed  only  with  his  rifle, — for  a  knife  is  generally  use- 
less, a  body-to-body  encounter  with  the  animal  being  seldom 
possible, — the  Indian  lights  his  steps  by  means  of  his  taper, 
and  advances  without  knowing  in  what  direction  the 
grisly  bear  may  rush  to  attack  his  aggressor.  Soon  he 
places  his  brilliant  light  in  one  of  the  crevices  of  the  rock, 
and  lies  down  on  his  belly,  so  as  to  conceal  himself  from 
view,  and  to  be  ready  to  fire  at  the  animal  the  moment  he 
shows  himself. 

Do  you  hear  that  terrible  growl  1  It  is  the  bear 
awakening.  See,  he  raises  himself ;  he  stands  erect ;  he 
shakes  his  shaggy  hair,  which  is  like  that  of  a  New- 
foundland dog,  and  yawning,  like  one  just  aroused  from 
slumber,  he  makes  a  few  steps  in  advance.  The  trapper 
remains  immovable,  and,  with  his  rifle  ready  to  fire, 
waits  with  anxiety  until  the  bear  comes  in  sight  and 
within  range.  What  emotion  stirs  the  nerves  of  the 
daring  adventurer,  for  whom  retreat  is  impossible,  and 
whose  life  depends  on  the  accuracy  of  his  eye  and  the 
dryness  of  the  powder  with  which  his  gun  is  loaded. 
Should  the  bullet  miss  its  aim,  he  is  a  dead  man  !  The 
common  bear  is  tenacious  of  life,  and  frequently,  after 
being  too  severely  wounded  for  flight,  wdll  sustain  a  com- 
bat for  several  hours ;  but  the  grisly  bear  is  still  more 
terrible:  the  thickness  of  his  fur,  the  strength  of  his 
bones,  serve  to  shelter  his  heart  from  the  bullets,  and  his 
brain  is  encased  in  a  skull  whose  bones  are  as  hard  as 
granite.  A  shot  striking  the  grisly  bear  in  the  middle  of 
his  forehead  will  be  flattened  against  it  as  against  a  plate 
of  iron ;  it  is  therefore  in  the  eye -ball  that  the  Indian 
endeavours  to  hit  the  animal ;  this  is  the  only  road  by 


AMONG  THE  CHEROKEES.  291 

which  the  bullet  will  penetrate  into  the  head,  and  paralyze 
the  creature's  force. 

Look  ! — the  bear,  having  arrived  opposite  to  the  candle, 
has  lifted  his  enormous  paw,  as  if  to  strike  it  out ;  at  the 
same  moment  the  Indian  fires,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
obscurity  prevailing  over  the  scene  which  I  have  attempted 
to  describe,  you  may  hear  a  fantastic  hurrah,  the  triumph- 
song  of  the  fortunate  conqueror  !  The  trapper  has  killed 
the  grisly  bear. 

During  my  sojourn  among  the  Cherokee  Indians,  in 
their  wigwam  on  the  Creek  River,  one  of  them  observed 
in  my  presence,  during  the  evening  watch,  that  he  hoped 
for  a  good  hunt  on  the  following  day,  because,  that  very 
morning,  he  had  discovered  the  lair  of  a  Grisly,  and  in- 
tended to  attack  him  alone.  However,  I  asked  per- 
mission to  accompany  him,  that  I  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  witnessing  this  new  kind  of  combat.  Naturally 
all  the  men  in  the  encampment  followed  us,  and  we  had 
made  our  way,  with  great  difficulty,  through  a  thicket  of 
cotton-trees  and  lianas,  when  the  Indian  informed  us  he 
had  come  upon  the  animal's  traces.  Following  them  up, 
we  arrived  in  front  of  a  gigantic  tree,  whose  circumference 
was  nearly  one  hundred  feet.  It  was  a  maple  of  vener- 
able antiquity,  in  whose  hollow  trunk,  according  to  the 
Indian,  the  bear  had  taken  up  his  abode,  and  where  he 
intended  to  arouse  him  from  his  tranquillity.  Never  have 
I  seen  anything  more  admirable  than  this  man  calmly 
preparing  to  encounter  one  of  the  most  terrible  risks 
which  the  world  of  peril  knows  of.  A  ferocious  joy 
sparkled  in  his  eyes.     Throwing  away  the  coverlet  under 


292  A  BANQUET  ON  BEAR-STEAKS. 

which  his  broad  shoulders  were  sheltered,  he  waved  his 
arms  in  the  air,  brandishing  a  formidable  bowie-knife, 
and  recommended  us  by  a  significant  look  to  observe  the 
completest  silence. 

I  imitated  the  Indians  who  had  come,  like  myself,  to 
be  present  at  this  unique  species  of  sport,  and  climbed 
a  young  tree  which  bent  under  my  weight — recollecting 
that  the  bears  clamber  up  the  larger  trees  as  nimbly  as 
squirrels.  As  soon  as  he  saw  us  all  in  safety,  the  Indian 
hunter  penetrated  into  the  bear's  retreat. 

A  moment  or  two  afterwards  we  heard  a  hoarse  growl, 
and  almost  immediately  the  Indian  leapt  out  of  the  trunk 
of  the  maple,  exclaiming  that  the  bear  had  lived  !  Each 
of  us  quitted  his  aerial  post,  and  two  Cherokees,  gliding 
through  the  narrow  opening  in  the  tree,  attached  the 
animal's  hind-paws  to  a  rope  made  of  lianas,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  his  companions,  drew  out  the  carcass  of 
an  enormous  beast,  weighing  nearly  twenty  hundred- 
weight. With  the  same  cord  the  grisly  bear  was  sus- 
pended about  two  feet  above  the  ground,  and  each  re- 
sumed his  road  to  the  Creek  Kiver  camp.  All  along 
the  path  the  Cherokees  cut  numerous  notches  in  the  trees; 
and  as  soon  as  we  had  arrived,  four  Indians,  guiding  their 
steps  by  these  indications,  started  off  to  cut  up  the  animal, 
and  bring  back  the  flesh  and  skin.  I  do  not  think  I 
need  here  insist  on  the  ample  banquet  provided  for  us  by 
Master  Martin's  flesh ;  but  I  seize  the  occasion  to  justify 
the  great  novelist,  Alexandre  Dumas,  from  the  reproach 
of  mendacity  levelled  against  him  on  the  subject  of  hear- 
steahs,  which  he  asserted  that  he  had  eaten.  In  the 
United  States  bears'  hams  are  sold  in  the  market,  just  as  at 
Paris  lamb,  venison,  or  poultry.      It  is  an  ordinary  dish. 


AMONG  THE  ALLEGHANIES.  293 

whose  savour  recalls  that  of  a  *^  confused "  mixture  of 
beef  and  pork,  with  an  additional  "  wildness "  of  taste 
about  it. 

And  now  for  an  anecdote  of  bear-hunting,. in  which  I 
was  one  of  the  principal  heroes  during  my  residence  in 
the  United  States. 

The  scene  lies  on  the  slope  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 
I  was  returning,  accompanied  by  two  friends,  from  a  day's 
sport  against  the  birds  of  passage  who  crowded  the  waters 
of  a  fine  lake.  The  snow  covered  its  shore,  where  we 
had  moored  our  little  bark.  Before  us  rose  a  forest  of 
cedars,  and  our  guide  made  us  remark,  at  the  foot  of  one 
of  these  velrerable  trees,  a  mass  of  leaves,  moss,  and 
boughs,  in  the  middle  of  which  an  opening  had  been 
effected.  He  was  persuaded  that  it  was  the  retreat  of  a 
Grisly. 

With  a  hatchet,  which  he  carried  in  his  belt,  our  guide 
cut  down  a  young  cedar,  and  sharpened  the  extremity ; 
posting  himself  at  the  entrance  to  the  den,  with  the  stake 
in  one  hand  and  his  hatchet  in  the  other,  he  began  to 
forage  among  the  decayed  timber.  He  had  scarcely  com- 
menced this  game  before  a  bear  sprang  to  the  opening; 
but  the  guide  dealt  him  on  the  skull  so  terrible  a  blow 
that,  growling  and  moaning,  he  retired  to  the  further  end 
of  his  asylum. 

The  stake  was  again  thrust  into  the  opening,  and  the 
stirring  recommenced.  As  the  noise  had  ceased,  I  pro- 
posed, at  all  hazards,  to  fire  a  bullet  into  the  interior. 
The  ball  went  on  its  way  whistling,  and  a  few  seconds 
afterwards  a  cub,  scarcely  so  big  as  a  fox,  sprang  out, 
bounded  to  the  edge  of  the  lake,  and  plunged  into  its 


294 


DEATH  OF  THE  SHE-BEAR. 


waters.  One  of  my  comrades  and  myself  discharged  our 
guns  at  him ;  I  was  the  more  fortunate  of  the  two ;  my 
ball  struck  the  animal,  who  ceased  all  movement,  and,  by 
the  aid  of  the  boat,  was  soon  brought  back  to  the  shore. 

Meanwhile  the  third  hunter  had  fired  again  into  the 
bottom  of  the  cave.  Nothing  stirred.  A  profound  silence 
prevailed  in  the  dark  burrow.     We  resolved  to  open  it 


"he  began  to  forage  among  the  decayed  timber." 

up  to  the  day  by  removing  all  the  leaves  and  branches, 
and  lo !  in  the  lair  lay  dead  the  she-bear,  whose  skull  had 
been  split  open  by  our  guide's  hatchet.  A  single  bullet — 
it  was  mine — had  terminated  her  days.  We  found  it  in 
her  body  when  stripping  off  the  skin;  and  as  my  gun 
was  the  only  one  of  No.  16  calibre,  my  comrades  were 
compelled  to  own  that  I  was  king  of  the  chase.  The 
guide  alone  divided  with  me  the  honours  of  victory. 


Here  follows  another  story  of  hunting  the  grisly  bear, 
which  was  told  to  me  by  the  hero  of  it : — 


AN  ENGLISH  SETTLER.  295 

During  my  residence  in  the  town  of  St.  Louis,  in  the 
United  States,  I  had  occasion  to  associate  myself  with 
some  of  those  adventurous  merchants  who  carry  on  a 
dangerous  but  lucrative  traffic  in  the  centre  of  the  Ame- 
rican desert.  Their  absence  is  sometimes  prolonged  for 
upwards  of  six  months  ;  they  go  from  one  tribe  to  another, 
with  their  vehicles  and  servants,  until  all  their  merchand- 
ize is  disposed  of;  then  they  regain  Fort  Leavenworth 
with  skins,  and  gold,  and  other  precious  commodities, 
which  yield  them  a  profit  of  from  400  to  500  per  cent. 
Most  of  my  acquaintances  confined  their  operations  to 
the  regions  along  the  western  coast  of  America,  between 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Portuguese  possessions  of  Ben- 
guela. 

One  of  the  most  enterprising,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  fortunate,  of  these  merchants,  was  named  John 
Jeffrey,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  had  amassed  a 
small  fortune  in  his  excursions  among  the  Redskins,  and 
wished  to  retire  from  business.  He  had  been  described 
to  me  not  only  as  a  man  very  skilful  in  his  profession, 
and  as  a  valiant  hunter,  but  also  as  one  of  the  most  in- 
telligent explorers  in  North  America.  I  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  rendering  him  a  small  service,  and  he 
gave  me,  in  reference  to  this  country,  all  the  information 
I  could  desire.  My  assistance,  however,  had  not  been 
very  considerable.  A  slave  whom  he  had  purchased  in 
Cuba  having  been  thrown  into  prison,  I  had  succeeded, 
through  my  influence  with  the  authorities,  in  obtaining 
his  release. 

The  affectionate  solicitude  which  Jeffrey  displayed  in 
this  affair  surprised  me.  How  originated  his  strong 
attachment  for  the  young  mulatto  1     There  was  nothing 


296  HOW  HE  TOLD  HIS  STORY. 

very  pleasing  either  in  the  person  or  manners  of  Nar- 
cissus. He  seemed  to  love  his  master ;  but  his  character 
was  not  more  agreeable  than  his  physiognomy,  and  his 
intelligence  did  not  appear  brilliant.  I  had  heard  it  said 
that  Mr.  Jeffrey,  in  spite  of  his  commercial  shrewdness 
and  his  passion  for  the  chase,  was  honest,  and  possessed  a 
sensible  heart.  I  supposed  that  Narcissus  had  been  sold 
to  him  by  his  father  and  mother,  on  his  giving  a  solemn 
promise  that  he  would  take  care  of  their  son,  and  that 
the  merchant's  tenderness  originated  in  his  honourable 
desire  to  be  ^^  as  good  as  his  word." 

It  chanced  that  on  the  very  same  evening  he  paid  me 
a  visit  to  thank  me  for  my  services.  In  the  course  of 
conversation,  I  took  the  liberty  of  telling  him  that  his 
mulatto  was,  undoubtedly,  an  excellent  servant,  since  he 
had  inspired  him  with  so  strong  an  affection. 

^^  I  ought  to  take  care  of  him,"  replied  the  merchant, 
'^  for  he  once  saved  my  life." 

''  What  !  that  ugly  rascal  ! "  I  exclaimed,  not  stopping 
to  choose  my  expressions.  ''  I  confess  that  this  astonishes 
me." 

"  Yet  it  is  a  certain  fact,"  answered  the  nomadic 
merchant.  "It  is  nearly  two  years  ago  since  I  bought 
Narcissus.  He  was  then  a  child  of  about  twelve  years 
old — so  far  as  I  can  guess ;  for  in  this  country  it  is  difficult 
to  guess  the  age  of  the  blacks.  He  had  been  left  alone, 
devoured  by  fever  and  half  dead,  under  a  small  shelter  of 
boughs  and  turf  The  Maroon  negroes  are  accustomed  to 
abandon  in  this  way  the  invalids  and  the  aged  who  can 
no  longer  keep  up  with  them  in  their  migratory  marches. 
This  frightful  custom,  the  least  moral  of  their  habits,  has 


THE  MULATTO  NARCISSUS.  297 

led,  perhaps,  to  their  being  judged  too  severely ;  for  in 
other  respects  they  are  not  so  vicious  as  some  travellers 
have  pretended. 

"  But  to  be  brief :  I  placed  the  poor  boy  in  one  of  my 
vehicles,  and  gave  him  some  doses  of  quinine,  and  other 
remedies.  At  the  end  of  a  few  days,  he  trotted  and 
gambolled  about  as  if  he  had  never  been  ill." 

"  Then  you  saved  his  life,"  I  observed,  ^^  before  he 
saved  yours  % " 

"  Probably,"  answered  Mr.  Jeffrey  j  "  though  his 
wound  might,  perhaps,  have  healed  of  itself,  if  I  had  not 
found  him  on  my  i;oad.  The  mulattoes  are  singularly 
tenacious  of  life.  It  requires  long  fasts  and  terrible 
diseases  to  drive  them  out  of  the  world ;  but  listen  while 
I  tell  you  how  Narcissus  showed  his  gratitude  : — 


"I  had  set  out  en  route  for  Santa  Fe,  with  two 
waggons,  and  about  a  dozen  servants.  Two  of  the  latter 
were  blacks,  who  had  come  from  the  Mozambique  coast ; 
the  others,  Canadians,  whom  I  took  into  my  service  after 
my  departure.  The  majority  of  them  I  had  picked  up  at 
St.  Louis.  These  men  were  tolerably  well  acquainted 
with  their  work ;  they  had  acquired  quite  a  singular 
topographical  knowledge  of  the  country  I  was  about  to 
traverse  ;  they  could,  therefore,  assist  me  in  guiding  the 
cattle;  and  often  I  started  them  in  pursuit  of  game, 
whose  scent  they  followed  up  with  admirable  accuracy. 

"  But  if  they  knew  the  country  well,  I  must  confess 
that  they  required  my  constant  surveillance.  Nature 
had  cursed  them  with  an  excessive  poltroonery,  and 
though  several  knew  how  to  handle  fire-arms,  I  could 
never   persuade   them    to   confront,  with  any  degree  of 


298  CROSSING  THE  *PRAIRIES. 

coolness,  an  animal  as  formidable  as  a  bison.  If  you 
only  pronounced  the  name  of  the  grisly  bear,  you  threw 
them  into  a  panic  !  I  killed  two  or  three  bisons  without 
receiving  the  slightest  help  from  my  people — Narcissus 
excepted  ;  and  he,  I  must  own,  stood  bravely  by  my  side 
under  all  circumstances,  though  his  teeth  began  to 
chatter,  and  his  eyes  to  stream  like  springs,  when  we 
approached  the  enemy. 

"  One  day,  after  noon,"  continued  Mr.  Jeffrey,  ^^  I 
drew  up  my  waggons  in  the  vicinity  of  a  pool,  whither 
different  species  of  animals  resorted  at  night  to  drink. 
We  could  see  their  traces  all  along  the  shore.  The 
locality  being  well  known  to  the  Canadians,  they  begged 
of  me  to  encamp  at  some  distance  off;  because,  said  they, 
the  Grislys  were  very  dangerous  in  these  parts,  and  if  we 
remained  on  the  border  of  the  lake,  we  should  probably 
lose  some  of  our  horses,  and  perhaps  be  ourselves 
attacked.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  when  once  a  Grisly 
has  tasted  human  flesh,  he  seems  to  prefer  it  to  all  other 
food,  and  disdains  all  other  prey  when  he  can  seize  a 
man.  Of  course  I  did  not  wish  to  imperil  either  my 
servants  or  my  cattle;  and  when  the  latter  had  fully 
quenched  their  thirst,  I  marched  about  two  miles  further, 
and  halted  in  a  little  valley,  from  which  it  was  impossible 
to  see  the  pond. 

''  We  kindled  a  great  fire  to  keep  off  the  wild  beasts, 
and  allowed  our  horses  to  gather  here  and  there  a  few 
blades  of  grass  in  the  midst  of  the  surrounding  rocks. 
As  for  myself,  I  eagerly  longed  for  an  opportunity  to 
salute  a  Grisly  with  a  rifle-bullet,  since  I  had  not  shot 
one  for  at  least  three  years. 

*^  Still,  as  I  had  not  been  very  fortunate  in  some  rifle- 


A  NOCTURNAL  AMBUSCADE.  299 

shooting  parties,  I  feared  I  might  not  be  better  adapted 
for  this  kind  of  pastime,  which  requires  great  skill  and 
firm  nerves.  I  sounded  four  or  five  of  my  men,  including 
Narcissus,  to  see  if  they  would  accompany  me  during  the 
forthcoming  night  in  a  search  after  the  Grislys.  Only 
three  accepted  my  proposal ;  the  others  we  left  in  charge 
of  the  waggons,  with  directions  to  keep  the  fire  a-light, 
and  to  watch  that  the  horses  did  not  stray  too  far.  We 
reached  the  pond  as  the  sun  set,  and  having  brought  with 
us  some  pickaxes  and  spades,  set  to  work  to  dig,  at  about 
a  hundred  yards  from  the  bank,  a  ditch  or  trench,  three 
to  four  feet  deep.  On  the  edge  we  piled  up  the  ex- 
cavated soil,  till  it  formed  a  kind  of  rampart.  These 
operations  occupied  fully  an  hour.  We  then  posted  our- 
selves in  our  entrenchment,  and,  with  our  guns  loaded, 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  enemy. 

"We  spent  the  night  there  all  in  vain.  A  great 
number  of  wild  beasts  came  to  quench  their  thirst ;  but 
the  king  of  bears  did  not  choose  to  put  in  an  appearance. 
Cayeutes  came,  and  panthers,  and  other  quadrupeds ;  but 
we  did  not  waste  our  powder  in  firing  upon  them,  since 
a  single  shot  might  alarm  the  Grislys,  and  prevent  them 
from  approaching  the  lake.  Yet  we  gained  nothing  by 
our  excessive  precautions.  When  the  morning  dawned, 
we  emerged  from  our  ambuscade,  stiff*,  benumbed,  out  of 
humour,  and  overcome  with  sleep. 

"  We  had  not  caught  sight  even  of  the  shadow  of  a 
Grisly,  though  we  heard  them  growling  in  the  distance. 

"  They  had  been  attracted  by  our  waggons  and  horses, 
for  we  afterwards  learned  that  they  had  prowled  all 
night  in  the  environs  of  our  camp. 

"  The  men  whom  we  had  left  there  in  charge  had  ex- 


300  A  PANIC  OF  TERROR. 

perienced  a  panic  of  terror,  but  preserved  sufficient 
presence  of  mind  to  keep  up  a  huge  fire.  Our  cattle 
showed  such  violent  alarm  that  they  nearly  planted  them- 
selves in  the  flames ;  and  it  was,  of  course,  the  brilliancy 
of  the  blazing  pile  which  prevented  the  Grislys  from 
attacking  them. 

^'I  now  abandoned  all  hope  of  bringing  down  one  of  these 
animals  ;  yet  I  was  unwilling  to  regain  the  encampment 
without  securing  some  game  to  compensate  me  and  my 
men  for  our  dreary  and  fruitless  watch.  We  had  already 
crossed  a  ravine  which  separated  us  from  the  camp,  when 
a  herd  of  deer  darted  past  us  through  the  thorny  bushes ; 
they  ran  and  leaped  as  if  under  the  influence  of  violent 
terror. 

"  Without  thinking  of  what  might  have  caused  this 
excess  of  alarm,  I  discharged  my  two  barrels  into  the 
midst  of  the  troop,  and  brought  down  one  of  the  largest ; 
but  scarcely  had  I  removed  the  butt  end  of  my  gun  from 
my  shoulder,  when  an  enormous  Grisly,  issuing  from  the 
underwood,  marched  slowly  towards  us.  He  was  not 
above  a  hundred  yards  off*,  so  that  I  had  no  time  to  re- 
load my  rifle. 

"  I  was  so  overcome,  I  confess,  with  terror  that,  for  a 
few  seconds,  I  remained  completely  motionless  and  un- 
certain what  I  ought  to  do ;  but  I  soon  perceived  that 
there  remained  but  one  means  of  extricating  ourselves 
from  this  unpleasant  position. 

"  When  the  Kedskins  make  an  attack,  with  knife  and 
gun,  upon  the  Grislys,  they  are  accustomed  to  seat  them- 
selves, side  by  side,  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  If  the 
animal  be  in  an  aggressive  humour,  he  singles  out  one  of 
them,  and  pounces  upon  him.     It  does  sometimes  happen 


THE  SUDDEN  ONSLAUGHT.  301 

that  the  unfortunate  individual  is  killed  with  the  first 
blow  of  the  Grisly's  paw,  but  generally  he  escapes  with  a 
few  more  or  less  severe  wounds.  His  companions  then 
make  a  simultaneous  rush  on  the  formidable  animal :  some 
seize  him  by  the  hind-paws  and  lift  him  up,  which  pre- 
vents him  from  turning  round,  while  the  others  stab  him 
with  their  knives.  Frequently  they  kill  him,  and  not 
one  of  their  number  is  seriously  injured ;  but  occasionally 
the  Grisly  proves  victorious  :  he  tears  in  pieces  two  or 
three  of  the  hunters,  and  the  rest  take  flight. 

"  It  seemed  to  me  possible  to  adopt  the  same  strata- 
gem. By  all  seating  ourselves,  and  presenting  to  the 
ferocious  beast  a  resolute  front,  we  should,  perhaps,  in- 
timidate him,  and  prevent  him  from  attacking  us  before 
I  had  reloaded  my  weapon. 

"  '  Seat  yourselves  ! — seat  yourselves  ! '  I  cried  with  all 
my  might,  while  I  bent  one  knee  to  the  ground,  and  pre- 
pared to  reload  in  case  I  should  get  an  opportunity ;  but 
a  swift  glance  around  me  showed  that  my  men  had  all 
saved  themselves  the  moment  they  caught  sight  of 
the  Grisly,  and  had  already  climbed  half  up  the  hiJl 
which  separated  us  from  the  camp.  Narcissus  had 
accompanied  them  in  their  flight,  from  a  belief,  as  he 
afterwards  told  me,  that  I  should  also  run ;  but  I  could 
not  have  followed  them  without  losing  ground,  owing  to 
my  want  of  agility.  As  he  dared  not  turn  his  head  to 
look  behind,  poor  Narcissus  only  discovered  his  mistake 
when  he  had  reached  the  encampment. 

''  Thus,  then,  I  alone  remained  to  face  the  bear. 

''  And  not  only  was  my  gun  unloaded,  but  more,  while 
digging  out  the  trench  I  had  handed  to  Narcissus  my 
hunting-knife,  because  it  embarrassed  me.     I  was,  there- 


302  CONFRONTING  THE  ENEMY. 

fore,  entirely  disarmed  j  and,  as  was  natural,  thought  it 
was  all  over  with  me. 

"  *  O  God  !  *  I  said,  *  have  pity  on  my  wife  and  my 
poor  children  ! ' 

"  And,  tortured  with  an  anxiety  you  will  easily  under- 
stand, I  waited  for  the  creature  to  make  his  spring. 

**  However,  he  seemed  in  no  hurry.  He  advanced 
with  a  heavy  step,  gradually  slackening  his  pace ;  then, 
when  within  about  a  dozen  feet,  he  halted,  and  crouching 
upon  the  ground  like  a  cat,  regarded  me  with  a  fixed 
gaze.     I   seated  myself  in   my  tvim,  and   in    the  same 


HE  REGARDED    ME    WITH   A   FIXED    GAZE." 

manner  looked  at  him  as  steadily  as  I  could.  In  my 
younger  days  I  had  somewhere  read  that  no  animal  could 
sustain  the  fixed  gaze  of  the  human  eye,  and  though  my 
experience  had  never  confirmed  the  tnith  of  the  opinion, 
I  resolved  to  try  if,  on  this  occasion,  the  device  could 
lielp  me.  Unhappily,  it  produced  little  effect.  At 
intervals  the  bear  closed  his  eyes,  or  turned  his  glance  to 
the  right  or  left ;  but  that  was  all.  At  length  he  laid 
himself  down,  his  paws  folded  under  him,  his  chin  resting 


THE  redskin's  ESCAPE.  303 

on  the  ground ;  exactly  like  a  cat  when  watching  a 
mouse.  At  intervals,  he  licked  his  lips ;  undoubtedly  he 
had  just  finished  a  repast,  and  I  divined  his  intention. 
Having  been  eating  fresh  meat,  probably  he  was  not 
hungry ;  but  he  had  resolved  to  keep  me  until  the  moment 
his  appetite  revived ;  and,  as  the  Grislys  are  very  partial 
to  human  flesh,  the  droll  rascal  coolly  waited  until  his 
recruited  dyspeptic  powers  would  enable  him  to  enjoy  me 
thoroughly  ! 

"  Was  not  this,  as  the  Canadians  say,  an  agreeable 
position  for  a  Christian  ] 

"  You  cannot  deny  that  mine  was  a  truly  critical 
situation.  I  had  read  in  the  narrative  of  a  missionary 
that  a  Redskin  had  been  kept  all  day  in  this  fashion  by  a 
Grisly,  until,  in  the  evening,  overcome  by  fatigue,  he  fell 
asleep.     When  he  awoke,  the  Grisly  had  disappeared  ! " 

^^  I  remember  the  story,"  said  I,  interrupting  Mr. 
Jeffrey ;  "  and  the  Redskin  had  a  lucky  escape." 

"  The  Grisly,"  resumed  the  merchant,  "  is  ferocious  in 
his  organization  and  his  habits ;  but  if  he  meets  with  a 
prey  when  he  is  not  an-hungered,  he  often  passes  by  it 
without  taking  notice.  At  times  he  kills  for  the  pleasure 
of  killing  and  the  lust  of  carnage ;  but  frequently, 
through  indifference,  he  abstains  from  bloodshed,  and  con- 
tinues his  road. 

''  The  Redskins  assert  that  the  Grisly  often  waits  until  a 
man  is  asleep,  and  detecting  his  first  movement  when  he 
awakes,  pounces  upon  him.  My  opinion  is,  that  the 
Grisly  who  kept  watch  over  the  Indian  was  put  to  flight 
by  some  noise,  or  some  terrible  object,  during  the  sleep 


304  A  HORRIBLE  SUSPENSE. 

of  his  captive.  As  for  myself,  I  did  not  doubt  that  the 
carnivorous  beast  only  waited  for  the  moment  when 
fatigue  should  seal  my  eyelids,  or  I  should  fall  from  utter 
weariness,  to  precipitate  himself  upon  me. 

"  ^  I  shall  live,'  said  I  to  myself,  ^  as  long  as  my  eyes 
will  keep  open ;  but  if  I  go  to  sleep,  I  shall  wake  again 
between  the  jaws  of  the  Grisly." 

As  Mr.  Jeffrey  pronounced  these  words  I  shuddered  in 
spite  of  myself,  and  could  not  refrain  from  an  exclamation 
of  horror. 

"Do  not  be  alarmed  as  to  my  fate,"  said  he  with  a 
smile ;  "you  see  me  alive,  and  in  the  best  of  health  ! 

"  I  wished  to  make  you  comprehend  the  full  extent  of 
the  peril  in  which  I  found  myself,  before  telling  you  how 
I  escaped  from  it. 

"  I  had  passed  the  night,  as  you  know,  without  food ; 
I  felt  painfully  hungry,  and  very  prone  to  sleep.  For- 
tunately, I  had  brought  with  me  a  flask  of  water,  and  as 
I  had  drank  all  its  contents  in  the  morning,  I  was  not 
thirsty.  Otherwise  I  could  not  possibly  have  supported 
the  emotions  and  fatigues  of  the  day. 

"  The  sun  rose  irradiant,  as  generally  happens  in  these 
deserts,  and  immediately  spread  abroad  vast  sheets  of 
flame  which  kindled  the  sand  into  a  glow.  Between  this 
twofold  heat  I  felt  my  skin  parched  and  burning.  I  wore 
a  broad-brimmed  felt  hat,  which  sheltered  my  head  from 
the  sun's  direct  rays,  and  yet  never  before  had  I  found 
the  sun  so  oppressive ;  perhaps  this  was  because  I  had 
neither  eaten  nor  slept ;  nevertheless  I  preserved  all  my 
presence  of  mind,  and  watched  keenly  for  an  opportunity 


STILL  ON  GUARD.  305 

to  escape.  My  people  might  perh-aps  take  courage,  and 
come  to  my  deliverance  ;  yet,  alas !  I  knew  theix*  pusillan- 
imity too  well ;  I  feared  they  would  not  venture  to  approach 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile ;  and  in  this  case,  if  the  Grisly 
caught  sight  of  them,  he  would  probably  rush  upon  me, 
and  terminate  all  my  uncertainty." 

"  But  why,"  said  I,  interrupting  Mr.  Jeffrey — ''  why 
did  you  not  reload  your  gun?" 

"I  attempted  to  do  so,"  he  replied;  "but  at  every 
movement  the  animal  raised  his  head,  and  began  to  growl, 
as  if  to  say,  *  None  of  that,  my  fine  fellow,  or,  if  you 
stir — !^  Had  I  persisted,  he  would  unquestionably  have 
rushed  upon  me,  before  I  had  poured  out  a  sufficient 
charge  of  powder. 

^'  He  was  an  enormous  bear, — the  largest  I  had  ever 
seen, — with  a  long  gray  shaggy  mane,  and  small  twinkling 
eyes.  You  will  not  believe  how  great  is  the  cunning  of 
the  old  bears.  My  gentleman  knew  perfectly  well  that 
my  gun  was  a  weapon  of  some  kind  ;  he  also  understood, 
— I  am  sure  of  it, — that  my  people  were  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, for  from  time  to  time  he  threw  an  unquiet  look 
in  the  direction  of  the  waggons.  I  could  then  feel  my 
heart  throb  violently  in  my  breast,  and  the  sweat  poured 
copiously  all  over  my  body," 

"  And  with  good  reason  !"  cried  I.  ^^But  did  the  Grisly 
remain  motionless  all  the  day*?" 

"  Far,  very  far  from  that,"  replied  the  merchant ;  "  his 
perpetual   restlessness   kept   me   in  a  state  of  constant 
(414)  20 


306  SYMPTOMS  OF  EXCITEMENT. 

anxiety.  A  troop  of  young  deer  passed  very  near  us, 
but  discovering  the  Grisly,  they  precipitately  wheeled 
about,  and  darted  madly  away  in  a  different  direction. 
The  Grisly  raised  himself  on  his  paws,  turned  half  round, 
and  eagerly  eyed  the  fugitives.  The  grislys  are  passion- 
ately fond  of  venison ;  I  therefore  hoped  my  bear  would 
abandon  his  watch  of  me,  and  start  in  pursuit  of  the  deer. 
But  he  undoubtedly  thought  it  wise  to  prefer  the  positive 
to  the  uncertain  j  a  man  in  the  hand  was  worth  a  herd  of 
deer  in  the  bush  !  So  he  resumed  his  former  position, 
lay  down  again  on  the  ground,  growling  in  a  frightful 
manner,  and  looking  at  me  more  covetously  than  ever, 
as  if  to  say,  ^  You  see,  my  friend,  I  have  let  the  deer  go 
for  your  sake;  so  I  am  determined  to  hold  you  fast.' 
You  may  believe  that  in  my  heart  I  cursed  the  old 
brigand  a  thousand  times ;  but  I  took  good  care  not  to 
articulate  a  word,  lest  it  should  bring  evil  upon  me. 

"  Soon  I  experienced  a  new  alarm  in  another  direc- 
tion: I  perceived  the  bear  attentively  looking  towards 
the  camp,  as  he  had  done  twice  or  thrice  before  ;  then 
he  reared  himself  on  his  paws,  and  roared  with  rage, 
licking  his  lips,  and  showing  his  teeth,  as  if  he  perceived 
something  disagreeable.  I  afterwards  ascertained  that 
my  men,  encouraged  by  Narcissus,  had  armed  themselves 
from  head  to  toe,  and  advanced  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 
There  they  could  see  the  Grisly  keeping  watch  over  me ; 
but  the  moment  he  stood  erect,  and  turned  towards  them, 
they  took  to  flight  in  a  complete  stampede,  and  leaped  into 
the  waggons  half  dead  with  fear. 

"  After  awhile,  the  bear  again  lay  down  in  front  of  me, 
stretching  out  his  paws,  yawning,  closing  his  eyes,  and 
seemingly  very  weary  of  his  watch.     But  he  had  indubi- 


THE  NIGHT  WATCH.  307 

tably  resolved  to  remain  there  until  night ;  otherwise  he 
would  have  torn  me  to  pieces  immediately. 

"  Towards  evening,  I  heard  a  distant  roar,  which 
appeared  to  vex  my  guardian  greatly.  From  the  intona- 
tion of  the  voice  I  knew  it  was  that  of  a  she-bear,  and 
I  thought  she  must  be  in  search  of  her  companion.  The 
latter  rose  and  lay  down  several  times,  going  to  and  fro 
with  a  wild  fierce  air,  and  smelling  the  ground,  as  if  he 
were  troubled  in  mind,  and  undecided ;  but  he  remained 
silent,  and  the  female's  voice  gradually  grew  weaker.  It 
was  at  this  part  of  the  day  that  I  felt  the  liveliest  anxiety  ; 
for  if  the  Grisly  had  replied  to  his  mate,  and  had  summoned 
her  to  the  spot,  she  would  have  thrown  herself  without 
delay,  as  she  was  probably  hungry,  on  the  dainty  supper 
which  her  lord  had  reserved  for  her.  From  all  ap- 
pearances, I  judged  that  the  old  scoundrel  had  the  same 
idea,  and  thought  it  prudent  to  hold  his  peace. 

"  The  night  at  length  arrived.  The  stars  shone,  but  no 
moon  appeared  in  the  sky^  Even  at  a  short  distance  I 
could  only  perceive  objects  very  dimly,  and  in  the  east 
nothing  was  visible  but  the  outline  of  the  hills.  The 
Grisly,  still  immovable,  formed  a  confused  mass  close  at 
hand.  I  was  certain  that  he  did  not  sleep,  but  watched 
my  every  movement.  At  intervals,  his  eyes,  turned 
towards  me,  shone  like  burning  coals.  I  had  but  one 
chance  of  safety ;  by  remaining  motionless  and  silent,  I 
hoped  to  fatigue  him,  or,  at  least,  to  prevent  him  from 
flinging  himself  upon  me,  until  some  accident  or  other 
might  attract  him  elsewhere.  But,  not  to  lose  this  last 
chance,  I  had  to  keep  awake, — a  very  difficult  thing.  For 
I  was  thoroughly  spent  and  weary,  not  having  slept  for 
thirty-six  hours,  nor  eaten  for  twenty-four;  what  cruel 


308  IS  IT  COME  ? 

emotions,  moreover,  had  I  not  experienced !  The  air 
was  fresh,  and  this  delicious  freshness,  after  a  scorching 
day,  seemed  to  woo  me  to  repose.  A  profound  silence 
reigned  around  me,  and  I  had  great  i;eed  of  continual 
efforts  to  keep  my  eyelids  open. 

*^  From  time  to  time  I  felt  my  head  sink  ;  then  I  raised 
myself  upright  with  a  shudder  of  terror  at  the  idea  that 
the  bear,  perhaps,  was  making  ready  for  his  spring.  It 
was  something  horrible  !  Even  now  I  cannot  bear  to 
think  of  the  horrors  of  that  night.  I  was  like  one  con- 
demned to  death,  who,  pursued  by  a  frightful  nightmare, 
wakes  with  a  start  to  remember  that  he  will  be  executed 
on  the  following  morning.  I  do  not  think  it  possible 
that  I  could  have  much  longer  supported  thig  awful 
pressure ;  it  was  too  much  for  human  strength." 

The  merchant  ceased  to  speak  for  a  few  minutes;  he 
wore  the  melancholy  and  downcast  air  of  a  man  tormented 
by  painful  recollections.  But  he  soon  recovered  himself, 
and  went  on  with  his  narrative  : — 

"  Two  or  three  hours  after  the  beginning  of  night, 
when  both  earth  and  sky  were  enveloped  in  shadow,  I 
beard  different  animals  come  down  to  the  watering-place. 
Some  passed  close  by  me,  but  I  could  not  see  them.  The 
Grisly,  who  saw  them  perfectly,  contented  himself  with 
slightly  moving  his  head  when  they  came  near  him ;  and 
I  soon  abandoned  the  hope  that  he  would  take  to  their 
pursuit. 

"  Suddenly,  however,  he  raised  his  head,  looked  at  me 
and  began  to  roar. 

*^^My  last  moment  is  come !  God  help  me  !'  I  exclaimed. 


A  VAIN  ALARM.  *  309 

"He  reared  himself  erect,  and  while  eyeing  me  still 
more  menacingly,  as  I  thought,  roared  louder  and  yet 
louder. 

"  I  prepared  for  a  struggle,  clutching  my  gun  in  my 
left  hand,  and  wrapping  my  handkerchief  round  my  right. 
My  intention  was,  to  smite  him  across  the  jaw  with  the 
but-end  of  my  musket,  and  to  choke  him  by  thrusting 
my  handkerchief  down  his  throat.  This  was  no  easy  or 
probable  scheme,  but  it  was  my  last  chance;  and  I  re- 
solved, at  all  events,  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 

"  Keally  I  did  not  cherish  any  hope  ;  my  sole  desii*e 
was  to  struggle  against  the  villanous  bear  which  had 
persecuted  me  since  the  morning,  and  to  inflict  upon  him 
all  the  harm  I  could* 

"  However,  it  was  a  Vain  alarm.  After  a  few  minutes, 
the  savage  animal  once  more  grew  tranquil,  and  crouched 
down, — not  exactly  as  before,  but  with  his  neck  out- 
stretched towards  me,  like  a  cat  who  is  closely  examining 
some  particular  object.  At  length,  having  satisfied  him- 
self, I  suppose,  that  I  was  still  in  his  power,  he  laid  him- 
self full  length  on  the  ground.  But  again,  at  the  expiry 
of  about  ten  minutes,  he  suddenly  arose,  and  roared  in  a 
more  ferocious  manner  than  ever.  The  idea  then  occurred 
to  me  that  another  animal  of  his  species  was  stealthily 
approaching  from  the  rear,  and  that  my  Grisly  objected 
to  any  division  of  the  spoil.  If  I  had  not  deceived  my- 
self, my  fate  would  be  soon  decided.  I  also  cherished  a 
faint  hope  that  my  people,  perhaps,  were  attempting  to 
succour  me  under  cover  of  the  darkness ;  but  was  it 
probable  they  would  have  courage  enough  to  dare  anything] 
That  I  had  no  longer  any  wish  to  sleep,  you  may  readily 
conjecture. 


310 


A  WELCOME  ARRIVAL. 


"  The  Grisly,  standing  erect,  growled  continually,  and 
paced  to  and  fro,  as  if  uncertain  what  decision  he  should 
arrive  at.  Finally  he  decided  :  I  saw  that  he  was  mak- 
ing ready  for  a  leap  ;  my  hour  had  come  ! 

"  At  this  moment  an  unexpected  howl  echoed  behind 
me,  and  a  blaze  of  flame  illuminated  every  surrounding 
object.     The  howl  lasted  for  one  or  two  minutes,  and  an 


"l   RECOGNIZED    THE   FAITHFUL   NARCISSUS." 

individual,  whose  head  as  well  as  shoulders  seemed  to  be 
on  fire,  burst  into  the  interval  between  me  and  my 
enemy  ! 

"  The  animal  gave  a  terrible  roar,  rather  of  fear  than 
rage,  and  with  a  bound  sprang  away  into' the  deep  dark- 
ness. 

"  Then,  in  the  person  who  had  arrived  so  opportunely 
to  my  assistance,  I  recognized  the  faithful  Narcissus. 
The  flame  with  which  at  first  he  was  crowned,  had  ceased 
to  shine,  but  in  each  hand  he  held  a  couple  or  more  of 


SAVED  !    SAVED  !  311 

lighted  branches,  which  he  waved  around  his  head,  leaping 
and  shouting,  and  whirling  in  a  frantic  manner ;  he  had 
the  air  of  a  demon,  but  for  me  he  was  a  liberating  angel ! 
The  poor  fellow  suffered  from  so  great  an  alarm  that  he 
could  hardly  speak,  and  did  not  hear  a  word  which  I 
said  to  him. 

"^Master,  load  your  gun!  load  your  gun!'  he  cried 
incessantly ;  '  the  great  beast  will  return ;  load  your 
gun  !' 

"This  was  excellent  counsel,  and  I  followed  it  as 
quickly  as  I  could.  On  rising  from  the  ground  I  found 
myself  as  stiff  as  if  I  had  been  stricken  with  palsy.  But 
the  blood  was  not  long  before  it  circulated  anew ;  and 
when  I  had  loaded  my  gun,  we  proceeded  in  all  haste  in 
the  direction  of  the  waggons.  Narcissus  ran  all  the  way 
in  front  of  me,  with  a  frying-pan  on  his  head,  and  a  torch 
in  his  right  hand,  leaping  and  shouting  like  a  madman, 
to  keep  off  the  wild  beasts. 

"At  length  we  reached  our  encampment.  When  I 
had  satisfied  my  appetite,  I  asked  my  deliverer  what  had 
passed  in  my  absence,  and  what  means  he  had  taken  to 
rescue  me  from  my  peril.  It  appeared  that  the  poor  boy 
had  endeavoured,  all  day,  to  induce  my  men  to  make  an 
effort  for  my  deliverance.  As  I  have  told  you,  they  made 
an  attempt  in  the  morning,  but  their  courage  failed  them. 
In  the  evening  Narcissus  resolved  on  venturing  by  him- 
self alone,  and  for  this  purpose  resorted  to  an  ingenious 
device.  He  took  one  of  my  large  frying-pans,  and 
covered  the  bottom  of  it  with  a  layer  of  gunpowder, 
sufficiently  moistened  to  prevent  it  from  burning  rapidly ; 
on  the  top  of  this  he  piled  some  straw ;  poured  into  the 
middle   of  it  a  little  dry    powder  ;  and    topped    up    the 


312  THE  STORY  FINISHED. 

whole  with  a  small  bundle  of  sticks  and  twigs.  With 
the  frying-pan  upon  his  head,  he  started  late  at  night ; 
and  when  he  had  accomplished  about  half  the  journey,  he 
changed  his  posture,  and  crawling  slowly  and  cautiously 
along,  arrived  within  a  hundred  paces  of  the  spot  where 
I  was  seated,  without  the  Grisly  suspecting  his  approach. 

**  It  was  at  this  moment  the  ferocious  beast  had  raised 
himself  upright  for  the  first  time,  and  had  begun  to  roar. 
'  That  formidable  voice,'  said  Narcissus,  ^  froze  my  heart, 
and  I  was  on  the  point  of  swooning  away.' 

'^  Remaining  immovable  until  the  Grisly  was  once 
more  calm,  my  mulatto  again  dragged  himself  through 
the  grass,  not  advancing  above  an  inch  or  two  at  each 
movement,  and  when  he  had  accomplished  a  few  paces, 
he  halted  anew  for  about  one  minute. 

"  At  last,  when  he  thought  himself  sufficiently  close  to 
make  his  coup  d'etat^  he  drew  a  chemical  match  from  a 
box  which  he  found  in  the  waggons,  and  lighted  it. 

"  He  had  but  to  touch  the  straw  for  it  to  kindle  into  a 
blaze  immediately.  It  was  during  the  preparations  for 
this  grand  denouement  that  the  bear  had  broken  out  into 
his  greatest  access  of  rage.  But  Narcissus  gave  him  no 
time  to  act ;  rushing  towards  me  with  the  frying-pan  on 
his  head,  and  a  lighted  branch  in  either  hand,  he  put  my 
adversary  to  flight  at  the  first  charge. 

"  And  now,  my  friend,"  said  Mr.  Jefi*rey,  turning 
towards  me,  "  you  will  understand  why  I  am  so  attached 
to  this  brave  boy,  who,  under  such  critical  circumstances, 
displayed  more  wit  and  courage  to  save  my  life,  than, 
perhaps,  he  would  have  shown  to  have  saved  his  own." 


SETTLING  AN  ACCOUNT.  313 

"I  warmly  approve  of  your  gratitude,"  I  replied  to 
Mr.  Jeffrey  ;  "  so  faithful  a  servant  is  worthy  of  a  faithful 
master.  But,  let  me  ask  you,  what  became  of  your  Grisly? 
I  hope  you  never  heard  again  of  your  abominable  and 
patient  old  persecutor." 

"  There  you  are  mistaken,"  answered  the  merchant. 
*^I  had  a  heavy  account  to  settle  with  the  brigand — should 
I  not  say  the  would-be-murderer '? — for  all  the  torture  he 
had  made  me  suffer.  As,  moreover,  he  was  a  Grisly 
anthropoph  agist,  it  was  not  prudent  to  allow  him  to 
prowl  at  large,  if  by  any  means  we  could  check  his  career. 

"  I  felt  certain  that  he  would  not  wander  far  from  the 
little  lake, — at  least,  so  long  as  my  horses  remained  in 
its  vicinity.  I  knew,  also,  that  two  of  my  fellow-traders 
were  following  at  a  day  or  two's  distance ;  therefore, 
while  plotting  the  Grisly's  destruction,  I  thought  it  ad- 
visable to  wait  until  they  had  rejoined  me.  We  might 
then  undertake  an  united  expedition  with  all  our  people 
and  all  our  dogs. 

"  In  due  time  they  arrived  in  the  camp,  and  when  my 
proposal  was  submitted  to  them  they  eagerly  embraced 
it. 

"  For  a  couple  of  days  we  harassed  the  old  cannibal 
without  succeeding  in  driving  him  out  of  his  cavern, 
which  was  situated  in  a  sequestered  glen,  and  carefully 
concealed  by  rocks  and  bushes. 

''  At  length  one  of  our  hunters,  who  had  contrived  to 
get  up  close  to  his  retreat,  shot  the  old  rascal  dead  as  he 
incautiously  showed  himself  among  the  underwood.  It 
was  a  splendid,  a  masterly  shot ;  the  ball  penetrated 
under  the  right  shoulder,  and  came  out  on  the  left  side. 


314 


TRUTH  IS  STRANGE  ! 


I  gave  to  the  conqueror  a  hundred  dollars  for  the  skin, 
which  I  wished  to  have  stuffed,  and  preserved  in  my 
museum  at  home, — as  a  souvenir  of  the  long,  long  day 
I  had  spent  face  to  face  with  the  animal,  the  most  terrible 
of  all  which  people  the  deserts  of  North  America." 


Such  was  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Jeffrey's  story,  which 
T   place  before  the  reader  without  any  commentary  of 


my  own. 


'^  Truth  is  strange- 


-stranger  than  fiction." 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE    BROWN    BEAK. 


|N  1847  I  was  despatched  by  the  proprietors  of 
an  influential  New  York  journal,  to  whose 
staff  I  belonged,  to  the  camp  of  General  Tay- 
lor, in  the  character  of  Correspondent.  Gen- 
eral Taylor  was  then  at  the  head  of  the  United  States 
army,  engaged  in  the  invasion  of  Mexico.  I  occupied  the 
leisure  which  my  position  afforded  me  in  traversing  the 
country  around  the  camp  with  one  of  the  new  friends 
I  was  fortunate  enough  to  make.  On  a  certain  morning, 
however,  I  undertook,  unaccompanied,  a  journey  as  far  as 
San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  one  of  the  posts  on  the  extreme 
frontier.  On  my  arrival,  I  found  the  companies  of  rifle- 
men established  there  in  a  very  bad  humour.  The  reason 
was  very  simple :  upwards  of  a  month  had  elapsed  since 
they  had  enjoyed  an  opportunity  of  firing  a  shot  against 
the  enemy. 


316  PLANNING  A  FORAY. 

And,  let  me  ask  the  reader,  what  is  the  use  or  value  of 
repose  to  people  accustomed  to  an  active  life  and  almost 
daily  combats  1  Who  will  wonder,  then,  that  they 
poured  out  their  complaints  against  the  entire  world,  and 
treated  as  conspirators,  not  only  the  Indians  and  Mexicans, 
but  also  the  celestial  powers,  and,  among  others,  the  sun, 
which,  they  said,  had  sworn  by  its  absence  that  they 
should  perish  of  very  weariness  of  spirit  ?  To  break  up 
the  monotony  of  their  existence,  they  resolved  at  last, 
either  on  a  raid  on  the  other  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  to 
sack  some  Mexican  villages,  or  on  a  totir  among  the 
mountains,  to  harass  with  fire  and  sword  a  few  "  haci- 
endas,"— hoping,  by  these  mild  means,  to  rouse  the  wasps 
out  of  their  nests,  and  find  occasion  for  a  little  rifle  practice ! 

After  a  prolonged  deliberation  on  this  important  sub- 
ject, their  brave  captain,  a  man  named  Shark,  determined 
that  they  should  undertake  an  expedition  in  the  mountains, 
— that  is,  against  the  Ked^kins. 

Every  one  looked  upon  the  foray  as  a  grand  fete ;  and  as- 
suredly it  was  a  pleasure  not  within  the  reach  of  all,  for 
on©  had  to  traverse  a  wild  desert,  to  pass  through  the 
midst  of  Mexican  and  Indian  populations,  to  run  the  risk 
of  great  dangers,  and,  indeed,  of  death  itself, — all  for  the 
satisfaction,  as  these  brave  fellows  said,  of  "  bringing 
one^s  hand  in,"  and  of  "  stretching  one's  legs." 

The  motive  which  had  great  weight  with  Captain  Shark 
in  deciding  him  to  take  the  direction  of  the  San  Saba 
mountains  was,  that  he  was  a  hunter  and  a  gourmand, 
and  that  he  counted  upon  finding  in  the  mountains  both 
bears  to  shoot  and  wild  honey  to  collect;  for,  let  me  add, 
in  passing,  the  captain  loved  wild  honey  with  an  unbridled 
passion. 


A  CURIOUS  COMRADE.  317 

This  prospect  of  obtaining  a  supply  of  honey  likewise 
affected  the  resolution  of  a  little,  fat,  short,  jolly  fellow,  who 
had  recently  arrived,  like  myself,  from  the  United  States; 
and  on  the  day  of  our  departure  we  saw  him  join  our  troop, 
attired  .in  the  most  singular  fashion  conceivable,  and  armed 
with  two  old  pistols,  besides  a  rusty  spear, — which  latter 
he  maintained  to  be  the  best  of  all  weapons  in  hunting 
bears.  To  his  saddle-bow  hung  suspended  a  large  iron 
vessel,  intended  for  the  reception  of  the  honeyed  stores  he 
hoped  to  gather  among  the  mountains.  Thus  equipped, 
he  appeared  the  most  resolute  of  all  our  phalanx. 

We  attempted  to  induce  him,  but  in  vain,  to  substitute 
a  gun  for  his  spear.  He  refused  with  dogged  obstinacy, 
and,  despite  our  railleries,  continued  to  assert  that  he 
could  handle  his  lance  so  as  to  put  to  shame  the  most 
skilful  of  sharp-shooters.  And  so  saying,  he  dug  his 
spurs  into  the  flanks  of  his  dock-tailed  pony,  and  started 
off  at  a  gallop,  with  everybody  following  in  his  rear. 

Kiflemen  require  but  little  time  to  prepare  for  an  ex- 
pedition; troops  of  their  class  are  rarely  caught  by  surprise. 
A  rifle,  a  couple  of  pistols,  a  hunting-knife,  a  tin  porringer, 
a  gourd,  a  bison-skin,  a  lasso,  bridle,  saddle j  and  spurs, — 
such  is  their  complete  equipment ;  they  care  for  nothing 
else  :  and  as  for  the  next  day's  provision,  never  disquiet 
themselves  about  it ;  it  is  the  business  of  their  rifle,  on 
which  devolves  the  duty  of  supplying  its  master  both  with 
the  food  and  the  clothing  he  may  require  while  he  is  in 
the  field. 

Our  company  presented  a  most  picturesque  appearance. 
We  were  all  attired  in  garments  of  skins,  fashioned  and 
embroidered  according  to  each  individual's  peculiar  taste, 


318  .  '^  IN  HOT  HASTE." 

for  we  scorned  the  idea  of  a  regular  uniform.  Our  equip- 
ment was  a  medley  of  Mexican,  Indian,  and  American 
styles  j  none  of  our  arms  even  were  of  the  same  make  or 
calibre.  The  more  experienced  hunters  carried  long-bar- 
relled rifles,  according  to  the  old  fashion,  simple  pistols, 
and  hunting-knives;  while  those  who,  like  myself,  had 
recently  arrived  from  the  United  States,  were  provided 
with  quite  an  arsenal  of  new  inventions,  six-barrelled  re- 
volvers, double-barrelled  rifles,  and  a  variety  of  other 
weapons, — which  were  very  beautiful,  without  doubt,  but 
in  practice  proved  to  be  rather  embarrassing  than  useful. 
Our  horses,  some  of  whom  were  m.ustangs,  and  others 
of  American  blood,  had  all  been  selected  with  the  greatest 
care ;  and,  therefore,  they  were  admirable  beasts — with  the 
exception,  however,  of  the  little  man's  pony,  which  could 
not  be  included  in  any  category  of  known  horses. 

Our  phalanx  of  warrior-hunters,  after  quitting  the 
streets  of  the  wretched  little  town  of  San  Antonio,  plunged 
into  the  open  plain,  which  spreads  beyond  it  like  a  vast 
and  boundless  sea.  It  was,  I  assure  you,  a  magnificent 
spectacle  to  see  so  many  noble  steeds  galloping  '^  in  hot 
haste  "  over  this  wild  area ;  and  one's  imagination  grew 
more  and  more  exalted  as  we  advanced  toward  the  moun- 
tain, and  felt  more  keenly  the  breeze  which  came  down 
from  its  verdurous  heights. 

We  arrived,  after  a  rapid  journey  across  a  charming 
country,  whose  aspect  changed  every  moment  like  the 
varied  scenes  of  a  panorama,  on  the  banks  of  a  little 
stream,  where  it  was  decided  we  should  halt  for  the 
night.  Our  encampment  resounded  with  mirth  and  hil- 
arity ;  we  emptied  the  contents  of  our  gourds,  and  as 


SURPRISED  BY  MEXICANS.  319 

there  were  no  enemies  to  fear  in  the  neighbourhood,  we 
slept  without  placing  any  sentinels.  Great,  nevertheless, 
was  our  disappointment,  when,  on  waking  in  the  morning, 
we  ascertained  that  we  had  lost  several  horses,  and,  among 
others,  the  superb  animal  which  had  carried  me  the  day 
before,  and  upon  whose  services  I  had  greatly  relied.  We 
had  been  followed  by  some  Mexican  brigands,  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  habits  of  riflemen,  and  who,  knowing 
with  how  entire  an  absence  of  precautions  these  people 
always  pass  their  first  nights  in  the  field,  had  profited  by 
our  profound  sleep, — the  necessary  consequence  of  our 
excesses  at  table, — to  pounce  down  upon,  and  carry  off, 
our  horses. 

Yexed  as  each  one  was  at  so  annoying  a  misadventure, 
a  general  amusement  prevailed  in  camp  when  it  was  dis- 
covered that  the  little  fat  man's  dock-tailed  pony  had  also 
been  exposed  to  the  covetousness  of  the  robbers.  But  the 
enraged  animal,  much  more  wicked  of  temper  than  for- 
midable in  size,  had,  as  it  appeared,  compelled  the  thief  to 
retreat,  and  not  without  punishing  him  for  his  attempted 
theft ;  for  under  the  hoofs  of  the  little  horse  we  found  a 
crushed  sombrero,*  and  on  the  grass  we  traced  the  out- 
line of  a  man  who  had  evidently  been  upset  with  vio- 
lence while  endeavouring  to  secure  his  spoil.  So  vigorous 
a  defence  raised  the  pony,  as  you  will  suppose,  cent,  per 
cent,  in  everybody's  estimation. 

By  this  mishap  we  were  compelled  to  await  the  return 
of  the  messengers  whom  we  sent  to  the  nearest  hacienda, 
with  orders  to  carry  ofi*  the  horses  necessary  to  remount 
our  troopers.  ^Ye  were  well  aware  that  our  purveyors 
would  find  no  lack  of  animals  to  choose  from,  and  yet  we 

*  A  broad-brimmed  hat  of  straw  or  felt. 


320  THE  HUNTER  AND  HIS  STEED. 

awaited  their  return  with  some  anxiety ;  for,  in  expedi- 
tions of  this  kind,  not  only  the  comfort  but  safety  of  the 
cavalier  depend  in  a  great  degree  on  the  quality  of  his 
steed.  As  for  myself,  I  deeply  regretted  the  noble  animal 
I  had  lost ;  but  my  regpets  were  as  vain  as  the  impre- 
cations which  I  hurled  against  all  those  scoundrels,  the 
Mexicans.  The  conclusion  of  my  story  will  show  of  w^hat 
urgent  importance  to  us  were  the  qualities  of  our  horses. 

When  the  detachment  returned,  and  presented  me  with 
the  charger  intended  for  my  own  use,  I  was  agreeably 
surprised  to  find  an  animal  of  magnificent  bearing,  whose 
glances  were  full  of  fire;  but  my  joy  was  singularly  abated 
when  I  found,  at  the  first  essay,  that  he  had  never  been 
broken  in.  What  was  I  to  do  with  an  untamed  mustang, 
— vigorous,  it  is  true,  and  strong  as  a  bison,  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  as  wild  as  a  mountain-cat?  My  comrades 
watched  my  attempts,  and  laughed  at  my  embarrassment. 
When  they  had  jeered  me  to  their  hearts'  content,  they 
assured  me  that  I  had  but  to  give  a  few  dollars  to  one 
of  our  Mexican  guides,  and  he  would  willingly  ride  the 
horse  for  a  day  ox  two,  and  render  him  ^s  supple  as  a 
glove. 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  a  copper-complexioned 
groom  sprang  on  the  back  of  my  steed,  and  started  oft' 
like  the  wind,  leaving  me  alone  with  my  jesters,  who  con- 
tinued to  afiirm  that,  at  the  end  of  a  day  or  two,  I  should 
have  a  capital  charger.  The  Mexican  did  not  return  until 
very  late  in  the  evening,  bringing  back  the  animal  white 
with  foam,  and  spent  with  fatigue,  thanks  to  a  gallop  of 
twenty  miles  out  and  in.     He  returned  him  to  me  with 


DIFFICULT  TO  TAME.  321 

the  assurance  that  he  was  a  horse  of  the  purest  blood, — 
"  rauy  honito^''  as  he  said ;  and  the  brilliant  manner  in 
wl^ich  the  brave  beast  had  accomplished  this  long  course 
wai-s,  according  to  him,  the  best  proof  of  his  excellence. 
As,  however,  I  was  not  without  a  horrible  fear  lest  he 
should  cripple  my  horse  by  his  too  violent  means  of  educa- 
tion, I  resolved  to  mount  him  myself  on  the  morrow. 

I  rose  at  daybreak,  and  approached  him  without  any 
great  precaution,  despising  the  reiterated  warning  of 
my  guide,  who  kept  shouting — "  No,  no,  por  Dios  ! "  I 
was  punished  for  my  temerity.  At  the  very  moment  1 
was  about  to  lay  my  hand  on  his  mane,  the  mustang  gave 
a  start,  wheeled  round  abruptly,  and  darted  his  two  hind- 
feet  so  near  my  face,  that  I  could  distinctly  read  on  the 
sole  of  his  hoof  a  counsel  not  to  draw  near  him  again  with- 
out the  greatest  wariness  ! 

Furious  at  so  uncourteous  a  reception,  and  indignant  at 
the  ingratitude  of  the  brute,  whom  I  had  wished  to  save 
from  a  day's  ill-treatment,  I  delivered  him  anew  into 
the  hands  of  the  Mexican,  recommending  him  to  kill  or 
drive  out  of  his  body  the  evil  spirit  with  which  he  was 
possessed.  My  recommendation  was  superfluous ;  but  I 
have  always  since  believed  that  the  horse  understood  the 
meaning  of  my  cruel  words,  and  that  he  resolved  from 
that  moment  to  execute  the  startling  vengeance  which  he 
afterwards  took,  as  the  reader  will  duly  learn. 

My  travelling  companions  were  all  as  joyous  as  brave, 
and  gaiety  reigned  throughout  our  ranks.  The  ad- 
venturous life  which  they  Jed  furnished,  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  the  theme  of  their  conversation,  and 
to  the  astonishing  stories  they  related,  I  listened  with  the 

(414)  21 


322  CROSSING  THE  PRAIRIE. 

liveliest  attention.     Thus  we  went  on  our  way  without 
fatigue.  , 

The  Mexican  had  restored  to  me  my  horse,  who  was 
now,  he  declared,  perfectly  disciplined,  and  I  was  comfort- 
ably installed  upon  his  back.  It  needed,  however,  all 
these  circumstances  to  render  the  journey  endurable  ;  for 
we  quitted  the  broken  country  through  which  we  had 
been  travelling  since  our  departure,  to  enter  upon  a  vast, 
bare,  and  sterile  plain,  devoid  of  everything  attractive  to 


"  WE   WENDED   OUK   DREARY   WAY   ACROSS   THE   WASTE, 


the  eye.  The  monotony  of  the  landscape  was  unrelieved 
by  hills,  trees,  or  even  a  simple  bush. 

We  wended  our  dreary  way  across  the  waste  for  about 
three  days. 

At  length,  on  the  evening  of  the  third,  when  we  were 
beginning  to  find  the  spectacle  immeasurably  fatiguing, 
we  discovered  a  huge  mass  outlined  against  the  horizon, 
like  a  group  of  sombre  clouds.  It  was  the  lofty  range  of 
the  summits  of  San  Saba. 

At  this   sight,   our  little  fat  man,  whom  the  dreary 


THE  doctor's  mishap.  323 

breadth  of  the  desert  plain  had  wearied  more  than  any 
other,  showed  himself  full  of  vivacity  : — 

"  Hurrah  ! "  he  cried,  "  now  is  the  time  for  tasting  the 
bear  !  I  bet,  gentlemen,"  and  he  brandished  his  lance 
with  a  martial  air,  "  I  bet  that  the  first  eaten  shall  be 
killed  by  your  humble  servant,  and  with  this  lance,  which 
has  been  the  object  of  your  railleries.  You  may  laugh, 
but  I  will  keep  my  word,  and  that  before  to-morrow 
evening." 

While  uttering  his  bellicose  defiance,  the  little  man 
dug  his  spurs  into  the  sides  of  his  dock-tailed  pony,  and 
this  in  so  vigorous  a  manner  that  the  courser,  little  flat- 
tered by  the  attention  paid  to  him,  reared  and  capered  so 
much  and  so  well  as  to  fling  the  doctor  and  his  spear 
clean  out  of  the  saddle.  We  laughed  heartily  at  his 
misadventure, — the  more  so  because  it  cost  him  nothing 
but  a  fright, — and  he  rose,  and  sprang  again  into  his 
saddle,  with  a  skill  and  a  promptitude  to  which  he  had 
not  previously  accustomed  us. 

Before  nightfall  we  were  near  enough  to  distinguish 
the  peaks  of  the  chain,  as  well  as  the  valleys  which  sepa- 
rated them.  We  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains. 
All  hearts  were  astir,  for  we  approached  the  country  of 
the  Indians,  and  were  already  so  close  upon  the  mountains 
that  we  might  reasonably  anticipate  a  hunt  on  the  mor- 
row. 

And,  therefore,  at  a  very  early  hour  on  the  following 
morning  we  were  up,  and  under  arms.  The  day  was  to 
be  a  rough  one,  and  we  prepared  ourselves  for  its  fatigues 
by  a  substantial  breakfast. 

As  we  approached  the  mountains,  those  masses  of 
granite  presented  to  our  eyes  the  most  curious  figures. 


324  '*EN  evant!"     . 

They  rose  abruptly,  and  almost  precipitously,  in  the 
middle  of  the  plain  across  which  we  were  journeying. 
They  seemed  like  an  army  of  Titans  drawn  up  in  close 
array,  several  lines  deep,  the  smallest  in  front,  the  hugest 
behind,  in  a  gradual  progression  whose  final  stage  was  lost 
among  the  clouds.  These  mountains  were  separated  from 
one  another  by  vast,  deep  ravines,  into  whose  furthest 
recesses  the  keenest  glance  could  not  penetrate.  We 
marched  in  silence,  absorbed  in  contemplation  of  the 
glorious  scene ;  when  suddenly  we  were  aroused  by  the 
little  man,  whose  violent  shouts  were  repeated  by  every 
echo. 

"  Forward,  my  friends,'^  he  cried,  in  his  loudest  voice ; 
*^  forward  !  I  have  found  them  !  I  am  in  the  midst  of 
them  ! " 

And  so  saying,  he  pushed  forward  his  pony  at  a  gallop, 
brandishing  a  lance. 

Greatly  surprised,  I  cast  a  glance  around  me,  and  saw 
all  my  companions  following  at  full  speed  in  the  rear  of 
the  pigmy  hunter,  whom  they  escorted  with  a  half-serious, 
half-mocking  air.  I  acted  like  the  rest,  and  before  long 
could  distinguish  the  object  of  our  wild  ride.  Three  or 
four  hundred  yards  before  us,  several  enormous  objects  of 
a  gloomy  colour  were  moving  across  the  grass  at  the  foot 
of  one  of  the  nearest  mountains.  One  of  these  animals,  for 
they  could  only  be  animals,  raised  his  head  at  the  same 
moment^  and  I  recognized  a  gigantic  bear.  I  also  heard 
the  voice  of  Captain  Shark  encouraging  his  companions  and 
felicitating  them  on  the  politeness  of  the  Ursidce^  who  were 
coming,  he  said,  to  meet  and  welcome  them. 

Most  of  the  soldiers  followed  closely  behind  their  leader, 
and   galloped    like  so   many  madmen.     As  for  myself, 


BRUIN  AND  THE  DOCTOR.  325 

surprised   by  the  unforeseen   event,    I  was    among  the 
laggards. 

Quite  otherwise  was  it  with  our  valiant  little  man.  He 
rode  from  fifty  to  sixty  paces  in  advance  of  everybody. 
His  gallant  pony  carried  him,  with  the  swiftness  of  light- 
ning, in  the  direction  of  the  nearest  bear.  The  animal, 
seeing  these  unknown  visitors  approach,  and  ignorant  as 
yet  in  what  way  he  should  receive  them,  had  risen  on  his 
hind-paws,  and  sniffed  noisily,  turning  his  head  from  side 
to  side  with  a  ferocious  yet  stupid  air.  The  little  man  con- 
tinued to  advance,  and  had  already  raised  his  spear  to 
stick  the  brute  before  the  latter  had  made  up  his  mind  for 
fight  or  flight.  Deciding  at  length  on  the  latter  course, 
he  waddled  away  in  the  manner  peculiar  to  his  race.  The 
doctor  pursued  him  so  hotly  that  he  several  times  touched 
his  back  with  the  end  of  his  weapon;  and  his  pony, 
carried  forward  in  like  manner  by  the  ardour  of  the  chase, 
galloped  almost  alongside  of  the  shaggy  brute. 

This  proved  too  much  for  Master  Martin's  patience,  and, 
incensed  at  the  violence  of  the  attack,  he  wheeled  round 
abruptly,  and  seized  with  his  claws  the  pony's  houghs. 
Immediately  the  latter  halted ;  and  the  shock  was  so 
violent  that  the  cavalier,  a  second  time  unsaddled,  was 
shot  over  his  charger's  head.  We  saw  him  hovering  for 
a  moment  between  earth  and  sky  in  so  grotesque  a  posi- 
tion, that,  despite  the  imminent  peril  he  was  incurring, 
his  fall  provoked  a  general  burst  of  hilarity. 

Happily  for  our  hero,  the  pony  was  much  larger  than 
himself.  Thanks  to  this  circumstance,  he  absorbed  for  a 
moment  the  entire  attention  of  the  bear,  which  gave  our 
maladroit  cavalier  sufficient  time  to  rise,  and  run  as  fast 


326  A  SHOT  IN  TIME. 

as  his  legs  would  carry  him  towards  a  great  oak  growing 
at  a  few  yards  off:  up  its  rugged  trunk  he  scrambled  with 
an  agility  of  which  no  one  would  have  supposed  him 
capable.  It  was  lucky  for  him :  the  bear,  abandoning  the 
pony,  was  already  upon  his  heels.  The  little  man  mounted 
to  the  highest  branch  that  would  support  him,  and  clung 
to  it  with  his  left  hand,  while,  with  his  right,  he  used  his 
lance  to  drive  back  the  bear  as  he  sought  to  clamber  after 
him.  To  complete  the  singularity  of  the  scene,  the  pony 
raged  like  a  demon  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  neighing,  and 
striking  the  ground  with  his  feet,  as  if  he  understood  his 
master's  danger,  and  would  fain  have  lent  him  some  assist- 
ance. 

All  this  had  taken  place  in  the  course  of  a  few  seconds. 
The  foremost  of  the  troop,  seeing  their  companion  shel- 
tered in  the  tree,  had  no  longer  troubled  themselves  about 
him,  but  had  started  in  pursuit  of  the  other  bears.  As 
for  those  who,  like  myself,  formed  the  rear-guard,  they 
laughed  so  heartily  at  the  adventure  that,  but  for  the  in- 
tervention of  Captain  Shark,  he  might  have  been  seized 
and  strangled.  The  latter  recovered  sufficient  composure 
to  take  aim  at  the  bear,  and  put  a  bullet  in  his  skull, 
which  terminated  the  combat. 

We  had,  then,  four  bears  in  sight,  all  steering  in  the 
direction  of  the  mountain.  As  the  little  hunter  was  out 
of  all  danger,  we  left  him  to  extricate  himself  from  his 
embarrassment  as  best  he  could,  and  pursued  the  animals, 
in  the  hope  of  overtaking  them  before  they  had  quitted 
the  plain.  Turning  to  look  after  our  fat  friend,  however, 
I  saw  that  he  had  descended  from  his  tree,   and  was 


THE  LUCKY  VIRGINIAN.  327 

thrusting  his  lance  again  and  again  into  the  body  of  the 
bear,  who,  though  grievously  wounded,  was  still  breathing. 

The  chase  grew  full  of  fire  and  animation.  Our  com- 
pany was  divided  into  four  groups,  each  launched  in  pur- 
suit of  one  of  the  fugitive  animals.  We  pushed  them  so 
vigorously,  that,  despairing,  undoubtedly,  of  climbing  the 
rocks  before  they  were  overtaken,  they  plunged  into  the 
narrow  valleys,  or  ravines,  to  which  I  have  already 
alluded. 

Chance  ordained  that  the  bear  I  was  pursuing  should 
also  be  followed  up  by  a  young  Virginian.  As  we  entered 
one  of  the  mountain  gorges,  my  companion  and  I  found 
ourselves  isolated  from  the  rest  of  our  troop,  who  had 
disappeared  in  different  directions.  I  thought  that  I 
perceived,  at  this  very  moment,  an  unwillingness  on  the 
part  of  my  horse  to  obey  either  spur  or  bit.  From  the 
first  appearance  of  the  bears,  he  had  pricked  up  his  ears, 
snorted,  neighed,  and  evinced  every  sign  of  the  greatest 
terror ;  at  intervals,  too,  he  suddenly  swerved  aside,  in  a 
manner  which  took  me  by  surprise,  and  threatened  before 
long  to  pitch  me  out  of  my  saddle.  The  Virginian's 
horse  appeared  to  experience  the  same  panic,  but  he  was 
more  manageable,  and  his  master,  owing  to  his  equestrian 
skill,  contrived  to  regulate  his  movements. 

While  I  was  struggling  with  my  horse,  the  bear  had 
gained  the  road,  and  was  making  for  the  mountain.  My 
comrade  pursued  him,  and  soon  man  and  animal  dis- 
appeared behind  a  clump  of  tall  oaks.  A  moment  after- 
wards I  heard  the  Virginian's  two  barrels. 

Vexed  at  losing  so  admirable  an  opportunity  of  dis- 
playing my  skill,  and  anxious  to  capture  the  bear,  I  gave 


328  THE  WAR-CRY  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

the  reins  to  my  horse,  and  dug  my  spurs  into  his 
flanks. 

The  animal  darted  off  like  an  arrow,  and  in  five  or  six 
bounds  I  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  thicket,  facing  the 
bear,  whose  ribs  had  been  broken  by  my  companion's  shot. 
He  writhed  with  pain,  and  howled  horribly,  grinding  his 
teeth,  and  opening  wide  his  red  and  foaming  jaws. 

My  horse  seemed  to  have  been  suddenly  changed  into 
marble,  which  I  do  not  think  could  be  more  immovable 
than  he  was.  Fright  had  completely  paralyzed  him. 
His  body  was  covered  with  a  cold  sweat,  which  stood 
upon  his  skin  in  great  drops ;  his  eyes  were  rigid,  his 
nostrils  opened  wide,  his  eyes  haggard  and  fixed.  The 
suddenness  of  the  shock  was  terrible ;  however,  I  with- 
stood it,  and  endeavoured  with  whip  and  spur  to  force 
my  charger  forward.  All  was  useless ;  his  head  remained 
motionless,  and  a  light  quiver  of  the  muscles  was  his  sole 
reply  to  my  exertions.  Then  I  broke  into  a  violent  rage ; 
I  stimulated  him  with  furious  shouts  ;  I  even  struck  him 
across  the  head  with  the  but-end  of  my  gun ; — in  vain  ! 

At  the  same  instant, — for  all  this  was  the  affair  of  a 
second, — and  while  the  Virginian  was  reloading  his  gun, 
our  attention  was  arrested  by  a  continual  roll  of  thunder- 
claps. It  was  like  volley-firing  by  platoons.  The  roar 
came  up  from  the  other  side  of  the  mountain;  cries 
accompanied  the  discharges  or  reports, — cries  which  those 
who  have  once  heard  can  never  again  forget :  it  was  the 
war-shout,  the  slogan,  of  the  Comanches  !  Almost  sim- 
ultaneously we  caught  sight  of  the  rapid  movement  of  a 
troop  descending  the  hill,  and  directing  their  course  to- 
wards us  ; — we  had  not  a  moment  to  lose  ! 


*^  SAUVE  QUI  PEUT."  329 

"  The  Indians  !  the  Indians  !  Take  care  of  yourself," 
cried  the  Virginian ;  then  turning  the  bridle  of  his  horse, 
he  set  off  at  a  gallop,  repeating, — "  Take  care  of  yourself! 
take  care  of  yourself !" 

Oh,  empty  counsel ! 

I  made  another  effort  to  roiise  my  panic-stricken  steed, 
but  not  being  successful,  I  leaped  from  the  saddle,  and 
speedily  gained  an  old  leafy  oak,  into  whose  boughs  I 
mounted  with  the  view  of  concealing  myself  behind  their 
intertangled  covert.  I  had  scarcely  installed  myself 
behind  a  tuft  of  Spanish  moss  before  twenty  or  thirty 
savages, — their  faces  streaked  with  the  "  war-paint," 
their  heads  covered  with  feathers, — debouched  into  the 
valley  beneath  me.     They  were  Comanches. 

On  catching  sight  of  my  horse,  which  still  stood  where 
I  had  left  him,  the  Redskins  halted;  one  of  them  ap- 
proached the  animal,  and  caught  the  end  of  his  bridle  ; 
but  the  troop,  discovering  in  the  distance  the  fugitive 
Virginian,  resumed  their  wild  fierce  gallop,  with  a  shout 
so  furious  and  loud  that  it  shook  the  very  leaves  around 
me. 

,  It  did  more ;  it  startled  my  mustang  into  life.  He 
shot  away  as  abruptly  as  he  had  halted, — sweeping  on- 
ward like  a  thunderbolt, — dragging  with  him  the  Indian, 
who  still  clung  to  the  end  of  his  bridle, — and  over- 
whelming everything  which  seemed  to  oppose  his  im- 
petuous course.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  he  had 
vanished  from  the  scene !  Soon  afterwards,  the  Comanches 
also  disappeared.  I  heard  two  or  three  straggling  shots, 
— and  found  myself  abandoned  to  a  frightful  solitude, 
whose  silence  was  troubled  only  by  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  bear,  slowly  expiring  at  my  feet. 


330         THE  PANTHER  AND  THE  HUNTER.  . 

These  strange  events  had  succeeded  each  other  with 
such  rapidity,  that  I  was  literally  stunned.  I  could  not 
collect  my  thoughts.  Was  I  not  the  sport  of  a  dream  ? 
No ;  I  recollected  that  I  was  three  hundred  miles  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  furthest  civilization,— planted  on  a  tree, 
without  a  horse,  without  a  friend,  in  the  midst  of  a  silence 
which,  apparently,  had  never  before  been  disturbed  by 
man.  Was  I  not  rather  in  an  enchanted  region '?  For  a 
moment  I  was  troubled  with  strange  visions ;  then  my 
thoughts  gradually  grew  calmer ;  I  hoped  that  my  com- 
panions would  remember  and  come  in  quest  of  me.  I 
abandoned  the  wicked  ideas  of  suicide  which  for  a 
moment  had  taken  possession  of  my  brain;  and,  resolved 
to  provide  for  the  natural  wants,  I  set  myself  to  work  to 
cut  up  the  dead  bear,  and  carry  off  the  portions  which 
were  suitable  for  food. 

While  engaged  in  this  useful  occupation,  a  roar  at- 
tracted my  attention. 

I  looked  all  around,  and  in  an  oak  near  at  hand 
detected  a  movement  of  the  leaves  which  seemed  to  in- 
dicate the  presence  of  a  living  being.  Between  a  couple 
of  branches  a  round  head  was  suddenly  presented ;  it  was 
that  of  a  panther.  On  this  terrible  animal  I  fixed  my 
gaze  in  affright.  Yet  the  panther  did  not  appear  to 
perceive  me,  for  his  eyes,  which  I  could  see  rolling  from 
one  side  to  another,  did  not  wear  a  very  ferocious  ex- 
pression ;  on  the  contrary,  the  calmness  of  his  physi- 
ognomy almost  invited  me  to  make  his  acquaintance. 
I  soon  became  satisfied  that  he  had  not  noticed  me,  for 
I  saw  him  stretching  his  limbs  with  lazy  indifference, 
and  yawning  with  sleepiness  or  fatigue.  Yet  I  was  not 
the   less    terrified   by  the  monster's  appearance.     I    re- 


A  PRECARIOUS  ASYLUM.  331 

membered  to  have  often  heard  it  said  that  these  ferocious 
animals  preferred  human  flesh  to  every  other,  and  I 
trembled  lest  the  panther  should  have  a  very  keen 
appetite  for  this  kind  of  "game."  But  how  rid  myself 
of  his  dangerous  neighbourhood  1  To  send  him  a  bullet 
was  undoubtedly  the  surest  means  ;  but  the  report  would 
attract  the  Indians,  and  I  feared  the  Redskins  more  than 
I  did  panthers.  I  thought  that,  all  circumstances  con- 
sidered, the  best  thing  I  could  do  was  to  return  to  my 
tree,  and  place  myself  as  high  up  in  its  branches  as  I 
conveniently  could,  so  that  I  might  not  be  attacked  from 
above,  but  should  always  have  the  "  upper  hand  "  of  my 
antagonists.  To  think,  in  this  case,  was  to  act;  and  in 
less  time  than  it  takes  me  to  write  these  words  I  was 
perched  on  one  of  the  loftiest  boughs  of  the  oak,  and 
completely  hidden  among  the  foliage. 

To  speak  the  truth,  the  panther's  vicinity  disturbed 
me  excessively.  The  animal  might  at  any  time  detect 
me,  and  force  me  to  a  life-and-death  struggle:  it  was 
imperative  that  I  should  get  rid  of  him;  but  first  I 
resorted  to  "gentle  measures."  I  selected  a  deer-shot 
from  the  bag  which  I  carried  at  my  belt,  and  hui  led  it 
at  the  animal ;  it  struck  the  leaves  just  above  his  head. 
The  surprised  panther  made  a  movement,  and  raised  his 
eyes ;  but  so  little  suspected  my  presence  that  he  never 
even  looked  in  my  direction.  I  took  another  bullet,  and 
repeated  my  manoeuvre.  Again  I  hit  the  branch;  the 
animal  turned  round  quickly,  looking  on  every  side  but, 
happily,  the  one  where  I  was  seated.  A  third  projectile 
struck  his  snout :  at  this  last  afiront  he  was  much 
annoyed,  watched  the  bullet  as  it  fell  to  the  ground,  then 
quitted  his  station,  descended  the  tree,  and  went  away, 


332  A  NIGHT  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

growling.  I  saw  him  disappear  in  the  valley.  It  was 
evident  he  thought  the  place  suspicious,  and  though  as 
long  as  daylight  lasted  I  watched  for  his  return,  I  saw 
him  no  more. 

Freed  from  my  unwelcome  neighbour,  I  decided  on  de- 
scending my  tree  to  cut  off  a  few  slices  of  the  beards  meat, 
which  I  had  suspended  to  the  branches  of  the  oak.  Having 
done  so,  I  climbed  back  to  my  position ;  away  I  climbed 
to  the  very  top,  so  that  I  could  see  nothing  above  my 
head  but  the  blue  sky  of  night,  in  which  the  stars  were 
beginning  to  sparkle. 

I  made  my  arrangements  for  passing  the  night  as  com- 
fortably as  possible,  and  stretched  myself  along  a  forked 
bough,  with  my  head  resting  on  a  kind  of  pillow  formed 
by  an  accumulation  of  Spanish  moss.  I  attempted  to 
sleep ;  but  the  presence  and  cries  of  the  owls  rendered 
the  thing  difficult.  These  birds  seemed  to  have  undertaken 
the  task  of  disturbing  my  rest;  they  ceased  not  to  wheel 
around  the  tree  where  I  was  posted,  striking  the  air  with 
their  wings,  and  heaving  their  lugubrious  cries,  while 
their  round  eyes  shone  in  the  darkness  like  flaming  car- 
buncles. 

The  moon  soon  reached  its  zenith,  and  its  rays  struck 
directly  upon  my  head.  In  their  sweet  soft  lustre  the 
landscape  assumed  quite  a  different  aspect;  the  valley, 
suddenly  illuminated,  shone  like  a  broad  ribbon  of  silver 
in  the  midst  of  the  two  sombre  mountain-masses  which 
inclosed  it.  The  noisy  cayeutes  sallied  forth  to  animate 
the  scene,  or  rather  to  give  it  a  drearier  and  more  repul- 
sive character.  These  carnivora,  attracted  by  the  smell 
of  the  dead  flesh,  arrived  from  all  quarters,  and  rushing 


ALL  ALONE  IN  THE  WORLD.  333 

upon  the  bear's  carcass,  eagerly  tore  it  in  pieces.  I  had 
then  good  reason  to  congratulate  myself  on  having  taken 
the  precaution  of  hanging  to  the  branches  of  the  oak  a 
few  morsels  of  venison  out  of  the  reach  of  their  voracious 
teeth.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  presence  of  these 
animals  drove  away  all  inclination  to  sleep ;  for,  to  say 
nothing  of  their  frightful  bowlings,  I  was  also  kept  awake 
by  the  fear  of  falling  plump  into  the  midst  of  the  famished 
pack,  and  being  devoured. 

At  length  the  morning  came  :  I  descended  from  my 
tree ;  roasted  and  ate  a  heef steak  off  the  hear ;  then 
quitting  the  valley  where  I  had  spent  so  unpleasant  a 
night,  I  regained  the  prairie  which  I  had  traversed  on 
the  preceding  day.  The  space  which  extended  before 
me  seemed  immense ;  but,  however  widely  I  opened  my 
eyes,  not  a  trace  could  I  discern  of  a  living  being.  I  re- 
cognized the  spot  where,  the  day  before,  the  little  fat  man 
had  so  gallantly  fought  a  bear,  and  on  the  ground  lay  the 
skeleton  of  the  animal  killed  by  Captain  Shark ;  the 
bones  had  been  completely  cleaned  during  the  night  by 
the  teeth  of  the  cayeutes.  Our  captain's  lance  was  still 
fixed  in  the  animal's  side,  and  fixed  so  firmly  that  my 
utmost  efforts  failed  to  extract  it. 

I  climbed  again  to  the  top  of  a  tree,  and  threw  my 
anxious  glances  around  in  every  direction. 

Alas !  the  plain  was  a  boundless  solitude,  a  dreary  desert. 
For  a  moment  I  felt  as  if  I  were  alone  in  the  world  ;  I 
imagined  that  the  sun  shone  only  for  me ;  for  me  diffused 
its  light  and  warmth  from  its  watch-tower  in  the  heavens. 
I  remained  two  days  in  this  vicinity,  awaiting  the  return 
of  my  companions  ;  my  supply  of  bear's  flesh  became  com- 


334  A  BIRD  OF  ILL  OMEN. 

pletely  exhausted, — hunger  began  to  trouble  me, — and 
once  more  I  abandoned  myself  to  terror  and  despair. 
Soon,  however,  the  very  magnitude  of  my  misfortune  re- 
stored me  to  myself.  I  wrestled  against  fate ;  with  all 
my  might  I  shouted  and  sang,  that  I  might  free  my  mind 
from  its  enervating  hallucinations. 

"  No,"  I  cried,  "  no,  just  Heaven  !  I  will  not  die  of 
misery  and  hunger ;  and  since  the  cayeutes  can  live  in  this 
frightful  desert,  I  will  learn  to  live  like  them.  If  needs 
be,  I  will  acquire  the  strength  and  suppleness  of  the  pan- 
ther, the  foxhound's  power  of  smell,  the  vulture's  piercing 
vision.  I  will  become  nimbler  than  the  goat ;  body  to 
body  will  I  contend  with  the  beast  of  prey.  Die  of 
hunger  1  No,  no,  assuredly  not  !  Better  would  it  be  to 
kindle  a  thousand  fires  in  the  prairie  and  reveal  my  pre- 
sence to  the  Comanches, — attract  them  hither, — and 
force  them  to  save  me  out  of  pity,  or  put  an  end  to  my 
wretched  existence  ! " 

T  mounted  the  tree  again,  in  the  hope  of  discovering 
some  living  creature,  but  it  was  fruitless ;  my  gaze  sur- 
veyed the  whole  horizon,  to  rest  only  upon  distant 
mountain-summits  and  a  vast  sweep  of  undulating  plain. 

Then  again  I  descended,  and  flung  myself  upon  the 
grass. 

For  a  long  time  I  remained  in  this  position,  my  head 
on  fire,  my  imagination  filled  with  distressing  ideas. 
Suddenly  a  bird  perched  himself  on  the  branch  above  my 
head.  By  his  black  plumage  and  strong  bill  I  knew  him 
to  be  a  raven.  What  did  he  want  1  Had  he  come  to  an- 
nounce the  hour  of  my  death  1 

"  Away,"  I  cried ;  *^  away,  accursed  bird  !  Away,  I 
shall  not  yet  serve  you  for  a  meal." 


A  MEAGKE   REPAST.  335 

Regardless  of  my  shouts,  he  quitted  the  bough  where 
he  had  perched  for  a  few  moments,  and  posted  himself 
upon  the  ground. 

At  first  I  thought  he  intended  to  fly  at  me ;  but  I  was 
mistaken.     He  contented  himself  with  tranquilly  picking 


A   BIRD   PERCHED   HIMSELF  ON   THE   BRANCH.' 

up  a  few  round  objects  which  lay  here  and  there  upon 
the  sward. 

These  objects  caught  my  attention,  and,  on  examining 
them,  I  discovered,  to  my  great  joy,  that  they  were  snails. 
Thenceforth  I  was  safe  from  famine ;  I  had  no  longer 
reason  to  dread  the  slow  pangs  of  hunger.  I  arose,  and 
collected  a  quantity  of  the  molluscs,  which  I  devoured 
with  keen  satisfaction. 

Somewhat  recruited  by  this  meagre  repast,  I  began  to 
examine  my  situation  with  greater  composure.  There 
was  but  one  course  to  adopt :  I  must  escape  from  this 
desert  plain.  My  life  depended  on  it;  and,  therefore, 
the  sooner  it  was  done,  the  better. 


336  DAY  BY  DAY. 

But  what  direction  should  I  take  1  This  was  the  first 
problem  I  had  to  solve.  I  examined  the  position  of  the 
sun ;  he  was  on  his  decline,  and  slowly  disappearing 
behind  the  mountains.  We  had  therefore  marched  in  a 
westerly  direction  to  gain  this  accursed  region;  to  return 
to  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  I  must  necessarily  keep  my 
face  towards  the  east. 

In  the  midst  of  the  vast  plain  I  had  no  landmark,  no 
beacon  to  guide  me;  my  shadow  alone  could  serve  me 
for  compass.  I  had  to  march  towards  the  east :  well,  then, 
I  must  take  care  that  my  shadow  fell  behind  me  in  the 
morning,  and  strode  before  me  during  the  afternoon.  I 
must  also  keep  my  eyes  constantly  fixed  on  one  particular 
point  of  the  landscape,  to  prevent  myself  deviating  from 
a  straight  line. 

Choosing  a  goal,  I  set  out,  and  steadfastly  advanced  in 
its  direction;  and  this  I  did  so  long  as  daylight  lasted. 
At  nightfall  I  had  still  before  me  the  apparently  illimit- 
able plain;  but  I  was  sure  that  I  had  not  digressed  from 
my  prescribed  route,  and  this  was  a  great  consolation. 
I  halted  before  it  was  quite  dark,  to  look  for  water  and 
pick  up  snails. 

During  the  first  two  days,  neither  of  these  resources 
failed  me;  but  from  the  third,  the  water  and  the  crus- 
taceans became  very  rare,  and  eventually  disappeared 
altogether.  I  then  began  to  suffer  from  the  cruel  attacks 
of  hunger  and  thirst,  and  was  compelled  to  abandon  my 
direct  course  in  search  of  water  and  food. 

At  intervals  I  heard  the  soil  reverberate,  and  a  troop  of 
mustangs  made  their  appearance  as  if  to  reconnoitre,  and 
determine  who  or  what  I  was;  but  they  vanished  almost 
immediately,  before  I  had  the  time  or  the  opportunity  of 


AN  ESCORT  OF  CAYEUTES.  337 

aiming  at  them  a  single  shot.  Sometimes,  too,  I  caught 
sight  of  a  stag,  emerging  from  a  growth  of  tall  grasses, 
but  always  out  of  range. 

Several  troops  of  cranes  flew  above  my  head,  and  I 
fired  in  their  direction.  Though  I  thought  I  heard  the 
shot  rattle  among  their  feathers,  I  had  not  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  a  single  one  of  them  fall. 

These  were  the  only  living  creatures  I  met  with,  ex- 
cept a  few  horned  frogs ;  filthy  animals,  which,  at  any 
other  time,  would  have  excited  in  me  an  insurmountable 
disgust.  But  I  was  devoured  by  hunger,  and  turning  to 
advantage  the  little  energy  I  still  retained,  I  limped  about 
collecting  this  horrible  provision. 

I  am  forgetting,  however,  to  speak  of  the  cayeutes. 
These  animals  followed  me  at  a  distance,  ready  to  throw 
themselves  upon  me,  and  tear  me  to  pieces,  as  soon  as 
they  saw  me  fall.  I  employed  every  device  I  could  think 
of  to  bring  them  within  range;  but  they  were  too  cun- 
ning and  suspicious  to  be  caught  by  my  wiles.  Following 
me,  step  by  step,  like  famished  ghouls,  they  seemed  gifted 
with  second  sight,  and  to  foreknow  my  death.  Every 
time  I  turned  to  see  if  my  shadow  fell  behind  me,  I  was 
sure  to  discern  them  at  a  certain  distance ;  and  every  night 
I  heard  them  prowling  at  my  side,  giving  vent  to  their 
sinister  howls. 

At  last  the  frogs  failed,  as  the  water  and  the  snails 
had  done.  The  further  I  advanced  into  the  plain,  the 
more  I  felt  myself  succumbing  to  fatigue  and  thirst  and 
hunger. 

Nevertheless,  I  still  dragged  myself  along. 

The  noise  of  a  crane,  which  flapped  its  wings  prepara- 
tory to  taking  flight,  resounded  on  my  excited  and  over- 

(414)  22 


338  SINGULAR  ILLUSIONS. 

wrought  ear  like  a  peal  of  thunder,  and  aroused  a  com- 
motion in  my  brain  which  threatened  to  shatter  it.  The 
exhalations  of  the  earth  struck  my  sense  of  smell  like 
perfumes  of  too  great  a  strength;  at  each  breath  of  wind 
I  staggered  like  a  drunken  man. 

Still,  I  dragged  myself  along. 

I  began  to  experience  the  most  singular  illusions.  I 
thought  I  saw  an  army  defiling  over  the  prairie,  with 
the  pomp  of  banners  and  the  glitter  of  bayonets;  or  now 
it  was  a  vast  lake  shining  in  the  golden  sunshine — ah, 
deceitful  vision  !  it  disappeared  immediately  I  pressed 
forward  to  enjoy  the  refreshing  waters. 

But  it  was  more  particularly  during  the  night  that  I 
was  haunted  by  fantastic  forms.  The  stars  darted  at  me 
their  arrows,  the  moon  showed  its  teeth ;  I  was  cold, — I 
trembled, — I  felt  as  if  plunged  into  an  ocean  of  ice;  and 
the  howl  of  the  prairie  wolves  I  mistook  for  the  roar  of 
waves  and  the  clash  of  tempests.  My  blood  boiled  in 
my  veins,  though  my  entrails  were  frozen,  as  if  death 
had  already  paralyzed  them. 

Then  I  felt  as  if  I  were  cloven  in  twain;  my  body  no 
longer  existed,  and  my  feet  refused  to  support  my  limbs. 

Still,  I  dragged  myself  along. 

The  torpor  which  benumbed  me  passed  away,  every 
now  and  then,  under  the  exciting  influence  of  hunger  and 
thirst;  and  then  I  was  torn  to  pieces  with  emotions  of 
rage,  and  I  flung  myself  upon  the  grass  as  if  to  browse 
upon  it. 

Still  I  continued  to  creep  forward;  for  the  intensity  of 
my  pains  was  somewhat  diminished  by  motion.  By  a 
strange  phenomenon,  my  weakened  frame  resumed  at 
intervals  its  vigour  and  its  elasticity  under  the  stimulus 


A  MAGICAL  PANORAMA. 


339 


PEOPLED   WITH   VAPOROUS   ANGELS. 


of  certain  ecstatic  visions  which  charmed  and  transported 
me.  In  those  rare  moments  when  I  was  free  from  pain, 
I  saw  unfold  before  me,  as  in  a  magical  panorama,  the 


340  THE  TENTH  DAY. 

sweetest,  brightest  scenes  of  my  past  life,  illuminated  by 
the  faces  I  most  dearly  loved;  but  all  this,  so  to  speak, 
was  spiritualized. 

It  was  not  the  reality  which  struck  my  eyes,  but  a 
kind  of  celestial  world  peopled  with  vaporous  angels ; 
they  looked  at  me  with  a  touching  and  tender  air,  shed- 
ding abundant  tears  at  my  miserable  fate,  bending 
towards  me,  and  wreathing  themselves  in  mazy  and 
voluptuous  dances.  I  extended  my  arms  to  seize  these 
enchanting  images,  and  suddenly  a  terrible  internal  agony 
dissipated  the  intoxicating  spectacle,  and  restored  me  to 
the  awful  reality.     I  began  again  to  live ;  but  what  a  life  ! 

In  this  wise  I  dragged  myself  along  for  ten  weary 
days  ! 

I  still  retained  my  gun,  but  as  it  was  a  heavy  weapon, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  carrying  a  giant's  club.  Its 
weight  bowed  me  down,  and  caused  me  the  most  horrible 
suffering;  I  sometimes  thought  that  the  shoulder  which 
supported  it  was  bare  to  the  very  bone.  I  often  longed 
to  rid  myself  of  the  burden;  but  I  always  resisted  the 
temptation.  I  could  not  endure  the  idea  of  perishing 
without  a  struggle  for  life,  and  wished,  if  I  should  en- 
counter the  Comanches,  to  die  in  battle.  Moreover,  it 
was  my  only  means  of  keeping  the  cayeutes  at  a  distance  ; 
and  nothing  appeared  to  me  more  horrible  than  the  pros- 
pect of  falling  a  prey  to  these  ferocious  beasts. 

Almost  dead  with  hunger,  fatigue,  and  thirst,  I  felt 
myself  incapable  of  struggling  any  longer  against  the 
destiny  which  overwhelmed  me,  when  I  suddenly  caught 
sight  of  a  Something  in  the  prairie  which,  from  afar,  had 
all  the  appearance  of  a  clump  of  trees.     At  this  spectacle 


A  TERRIBLE  DISAPPOINTMENT.  341 

I  collected  all  the  remains  of  my  strength;  for  a  moment 
I  forgot  my  past  sufferings,  and  I  ran  forward,  at  every 
step  exclaiming  joyfully,  "  Water !  water !  water ! " 

On  approaching  the  point  which  had  attracted  my 
attention,  I  could  make  out  clearly  the  position  of  several 
mounds  or  knolls,  at  whose  base  the  character  of  the 
ground  gave  me  every  reason  to  hope  I  should  find  a 
stream  of  running  water. 

I  had  not  then  deceived  myself;  my  hopes  were  about 
to  be  realized ;  the  spring  which  should  cool  my  burning 
lips  was  no  longer  a  delusion. 

An  hour's  walking  was  sufiicient  to  bring  me  to  the 
nearest  hillock :  it  was  covered  with  shrubs  and  bushes, 
and  at  its  base  I  perceived  a  shining  surface  which, 
mirror-like,  reflected  the  rays  of  the  sun. 

It  was  a  tiny  brook ! 

I  flung  aside  my  rifle,  that  I  might  run  more  quickly, 
and  dashed  headlong  like  a  madman  towards  the  longed- 
for  water.  I  leaped  into  the  current,  and  repeatedly 
plunged  my  head  into  it  up  to  my  shoulders. 

Horror !  the  water  was  as  salt  as  that  of  the  sea ! 

At  this  frightful  discovery  the  blood  rushed  to  my 
head;  a  vertigo  seized  me;  I  lost  all  sensation;  and  fell 
prostrate  upon  the  ground ! 

>k  >k  Vs  >k  Vf 

How  long  I  remained  in  this  position  I  am  wholly  un- 
able to  say;  but  I  was  aroused  at  length  from  my  swoon 
by  the  freshness  of  the  water  in  which  a  part  of  my  body 
was  immersed.  On  recovering  my  senses,  I  felt  much 
calmer  than  I  had  felt  for  days;  my  mind  was  clearer, 
and  yet  my  hopes  were  crushed.  At  least,  I  thought  so, 
and  the  certainty  restored  all  my  presence  of  mind. 


342  RESIGNED  TO  DIE. 

I  recalled  the  incredible  efforts  I  had  made  to  protract 
my  miserable  existence,  and,  at  the  thought,  a  contemp- 
tuous smile  contracted  my  lips. 

Was  I  not  a  madman,  said  I  to  myself,  to  struggle 
against  unchangeable  Fate*?  Let  my  destiny  be  accom- 
plished!  I  was  content  to  die.  And  what,  in  truth, 
was  death  but  a  brief  sleep,  and  a  termination  of  all  my 
physical  sufferings'? 

Yet  I  experienced  a  last  caprice ;  I  now  wished  to  die 
calmly,  stretched  upon  the  soft  sward,  in  the  shadow  of 
leafy  trees.  I  must  make  one  last  effort  to  reach  them. 
I  attempted  it ;  but  I  felt  extremely  feeble,  and  several 
times  fell  back  on  the  earth,  where  I  lay  for  some  time 
longer. 

But  the  longing  to  die  upon  a  mossy  bed  so  predomi- 
nated over  every  other  desire  or  thought,  that,  on  my 
hands  and  knees,  I  contrived  to  crawl  along  the  bank, 
and  once  more  to  stand  erect.  On  the  way  I  picked  up 
my  gun,  which,  as  I  have  said,  I  had  thrown  aside,  and 
then  directed  my  faltering  steps  towards  the  clump  of 
trees.  I  resolved  to  die  in  peace,  and  my  rifle  was  in- 
dispensable to  keep  the  cayeutes  from  my  death-bed. 

With  indescribable  difficulty  I  reached  the  bottom  of 
the  hillock. 

At  the  foot  of  one  of  the  largest  trees  lay  a  smooth 
patch  of  greensward;  it  was  the  very  spot  I  sought. 
Thither  I  dragged  myself,  and  lay  down  on  the  turf,  my 
head  reclining  against  the  tree,  and  my  gun  at  my  side. 
I  closed  my  eyes,  and  a  singular  lethargy  took  possession 
of  me :  I  felt  that  I  should  never  rise  again ;  and  yet  I 
was  happy. 

My  pains  were  subdued;  the  fever  had  deci^eased  for 


LIFE  IN  THE  HOUR  OF  DEATH.  343 

u^ant  of  sustenance;  and  I  was  no  longer  sensible  of  any 
other  effect  than  the  delightful  delirium  which  absorbed 
my  mind.  The  graceful  images  which  had  formerly 
visited  me  came  anew  to  hover  about  my  solitary  couch  \ 
I  saw  the  clouds  open,  revealing  the  heads  of  angels,  who 
looked  upon  me  smilingly.  They  waved  their  wings, 
and  seemed  to  invite  me  to  join  them.  I  half  raised 
myself  to  stretch  my  hands  towards  them.  At  the  same 
moment  a  sunbeam  darted  through  the  thick  foliage  of 
the  tree  which  sheltered  me;  the  light  fell  full  on  my 
face,  and  forced  me  to  draw  a  little  further  back.  I 
opened  my  eyes  before  the  shining  visitant,  and  looked 
above. 

Immediately  over  my  head,  and  not  more  than  five  or 
six  feet  distant,  I  perceived  an  enormous  squirrel  half 
concealed  among  the  branches.  At  the  sight,  all  my 
resignation  vanished  ;  the  sense  of  reality  returned ;  and 
with  it  the  unconquerable  love  of  life.  I  thought  this 
creature  might  save  me,  and  no  longer  doubted  the  possi- 
bility of  reaching  Bexar,  if  I  contrived  to  kill  it,  and 
supply  myself  with  a  meal.  For  a  minute  or  two  I  lay 
thinking  how  I  could  best  secure  my  prey;  my  resolve 
was  soon  taken.  I  had  my  rifle  beside  me,  and  must 
make  use  of  it :  but  had  I  the  strength  *?  I  attempted  it, 
and,  extraordinary  to  relate,  though  but  a  moment  before 
too  weak  to  move  one  of  my  fingers,  I  contrived  to  seize 
my  gun  with  a  tolerably  strong  grasp,  to  raise  it  and  take 
aim  at  the  animal,  without  making  a  single  movement  to 
alarm  him. 

I  let  go  the  trigger ;  a  report !  and  the  squirrel,  shot 
dead,  fell  upon  my  chest.  Immediately  I  drew  my  knife, 
and  cut  up  the  animal  into  minute  pieces,  which  I  swal- 


344  AN  OPPORTUNE  RENCONTRE. 

lowed  raw,  without  any  preparation.  Confidence  returned 
with  returning  strength  ;  I  murmured  a  brief  but  fervent 
thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  whose  divine  hand  I  recog- 
nized in  this  unhoped-for  succour,  and  throwing  myself 
back  upon  the  moss,  I  fell  into  a  profound  and  tranquil 
slumber. 

A  slumber  which  lasted  for  four-and-twenty  hours,  at 
least,  as  well  as  I  could  judge  when  I  awoke.  I  then  de- 
voured the  remainder  of  my  squirrel,  and  felt  myself 
capable  of  resuming  my  march.  At  first,  on  attempting 
to  rise,  I  felt  a  sensation  of  feebleness,  as  if  I  were  rooted 
to  the  ground ;  but  I  was  so  persuaded  Heaven  had 
taken  pity  on  me,  that,  by  a  superhuman  effort,  I  subdued 
my  pain,  and  finally  found  myself  once  more  on  my  feet. 
I  staggered  as  I  moved  forward,  but  did  not  lose  hope. 

After  a  two  hours'  journey,  I  perceived  in  the  distance 
three  men  on  horseback  driving  a  herd  before  them.  The 
encounter  did  not  surprise  me  :  I  almost  expected  it ;  for, 
as  I  have  said,  I  had  regained  my  faith  in  my  Maker ;  I 
felt  certain  that  He  would  not  abandon  me  after  the 
merciful  interposition  I  had  already  experienced. 

The  three  men  I  speak  of  came  towards  me,  and  I  dis- 
covered that  they  were  Mexicans.  Persuaded  that  from 
these  wretches  I  should  gain  nothing  by  mild  treatment, 
I  carefully  concealed  my  gun  under  my  hunting-coat,  and 
allowed  them  to  approach  unsuspiciously  within  musket- 
range.  When  they  were  about  thirty  paces  from  me 
I  took  aim  at  them.  Greatly  terrified,  they  suddenly 
checked  their  career,  and  seemed  on  the  point  of  wheeling 
round  and  fiying  at  full  gallop ;  but  my  gestures  arrested 
their  intention.     I  ordered  them,  under  pain  of  death,  to 


FRIENDS  AT  LAST  !  345 

wait  for  me  ;  which  they  did,  trembling.  Then  I  advanced 
towards  them,  and  forced  the  rider  who  seemed  best 
mounted  to  alight  and  let  me  take  his  place  in  the  saddle ; 
then,  waving  them  an  adieu,  I  left  the  creatures,  com- 
pletely dumbfoundered  at  the  adventure  ! 

The  horse's  gait  soon  caused  me  horrible  torture  :  I 
nearly  fainted,  and  scarcely  knowing  what  I  did,  I  let  go 
the  bridle,  and  clutched  with  both  hands  at  the  pommel 
of  the  saddle. 

I  remember  that  at  length  I  was  received  by  the  tirail- 
leurs at  the  gate  of  Bexar,  and  I  also  remember  to  have 
heard  a  voice  exclaim, — 

''  Poor  fellow,  I  did  not  think  we  should  ever  see  him 
more  ! " 

It  seems  they  helped  me  down  from  my  horse,  carried 
me  into  the  barracks,  and  laid  me  on  a  bed,  where  I  was 
carefully  attended  to.     Thus  was  I  saved  ! 

Afterwards  I  heard  the  story  of  my  companions'  for- 
tunes. The  Redskins  had  attacked  them  singly,  and  a 
desperate  struggle  ensued,  in  the  course  of  which  two 
men  were  killed  and  several  others  left  for  dead.  Captain 
Shark  was  taken  prisoner  and  scalped,  an  operation  which 
he  did  not  long  survive.  The  little  man  was  wounded, 
but  not  desperately,  and  in  company  with  most  of  his 
friends  effected  a  gallant  retreat,  and  returned  to  Bexar 
without  further  molestation. 

And  this  was  the  end  of  our  hunting  expedition. 


CHAPTEE  XXI. 


THE  BISON. 


HEN  he  has  quitted  Fort  Leavenworth,  on  the 
extreme  frontier  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Missouri,  and  ascended  north- 
ward the  river  Arkansas,  the  traveller  soon 
enters  upon  those  great  verdurous  savannahs,  those  Saharas 
full  of  freshness,  those  undulating  prairies,  of  which  no 
description  can  give  a  very  complete  or  satisfactory  idea. 
The  prairies — as  in  the  United  States  they  are  called 
— are  no  immense  smooth  plains,  clothed  with  trefoil, 
lucerne,  and  similar  herbage ;  but  undulating  fields,  fur- 
rowed by  numerous  brooks,  on  whose  borders  flourish  dwarf 
cotton-trees,  the  buffalo-grass — an  herb  with  an  elongated 
stem,  which  furnishes  the  ruminants  of  these  wilds  with 


THE  WESTERN  PRAIRIES.  347 

nourishment — and  other  plants,  whose  blue,  and  yellow, 
and  red,  and  white  flowers  enamel  the  uncultivated  sward. 
These  oceans  of  verdure,  whose  grassy  growth  is  some- 
times five  feet  high,  roll  in  the  wind  like  a  billowy  sea. 

Nothing  is  more  various,  nothing  more  interesting,  than 
the  prairie  flora.  Intermingling  in  rich  profusion,  the 
naturalist  finds  euphorbias  and  lilies,  some  with  white 
petals  streaked  with  black  and  red,  others  with  a  pin-ple 
calyx  and  a  scarlet  lip.  Here  bloom  flowers  of  a  thou- 
sand exquisite  hues ;  there  rise  tall  reeds,  crowned  with 
yellowish  tufts.  About  these  innumerable  blossoms  in- 
numerable butterflies  gaily  hover,  and  myriads  of  bees 
come  from  every  side  to  gather  their  nectared  sweets. 

Yet,  imposing  as  may  be  the  aspect  of  the  prairies,  one 
cannot  prevent  an  emotion  of  dread  as  one  contemplates 
their  boundlessness  :  not  a  tree,  not  a  mountain  breaks 
the  monotony  of  their  limitless  horizon ;  the  sky  itself 
aflects  a  gray,  monotonous  tint,  except  when  it  is  heavy 
with  great  clouds,  which  burst  in  terrific  hurricanes  five 
days  in  the  week,  sweeping  away  everything  which 
attempts  to  resist  their  course.  The  wind  roars  like  a 
gale  in  the  North  Sea ;  and  in  winter  a  fine  icy  snow 
takes  the  place  of  rain,  and  covers  the  ground  with  a 
spotless  shroud. 

In  these  regions,  so  verdurous  and  fresh  for  three  parts 
of  the  year,  bisons,  stags,  and  wild  horses  wander  in 
numerous  troops.  Thither  repair  the  tribes  of  the  Hed- 
skins,  who  divide  among  themselves  this  vast  hunting- 
ground.  The  Osages,  the  Delawares,  the  Creeks,  the 
Cherokees,  and  some  other  tribes,  there  meet  together, — 
tribes  who  have  become  somewhat  softened  in  their 
manners  by  contact  with  civilization.     There  also  the 


348  A  HUNTING  EXPEDITION. 

Pawnees  gather,  the  Comanches,  and  other  warlike  and 
still  independent  tribes,  the  nomades  of  the  prairies  and 
the  Kocky  Mountains. 

The  country  I  have  described  does  not,  in  truth,  belong 
to  any  one  of  these  tribes ;  but,  by  a  tacit  arrangement 
among  themselves,  they  have  claimed  and  taken  possession 
of  its  usufruct  and  shared  its  ^^  game."  Nevertheless,  the 
division  is  not  so  well  defined  or  thoroughly  respected 
that  one  tribe  never  intrudes  on  the  domain  of  another. 
"  Pale-face  hunters  "  also  descend  there  in  numbers  ;  they 
encamp,  armed  as  for  battle,  and  ready  to  repulse  any 
attack  which  may  be  adventured ;  and  frequently,  in  my 
excursions  across  the  prairies,  I  have  met  with  bleached 
skulls  and  skeletons  at  the  bottom  of  obscure  ravines,  in- 
dicative of  the  theatre  of  a  desperate  struggle,  and  warn- 
ing me  of  the  danger  incurred  by  those  who  visit  the 
American  desert. 

One  morning,  in  the  month  of  October  1845,  eight  of 
us  were  journeying  along  the  mountain-heights  which 
rise  west  of  the  Mississippi,  two  hundred  miles  from  the 
great  waterfalls  of  St.  Antoine.  Five  of  us  were  on 
horseback  ;  and  the  other  three,  Canadians  by  birth,  inde- 
fatigable pedestrians,  formed  the  rear-guard,  conducting 
two  cars  in  which  were  stored  away  the  utensils  and  pro- 
visions of  all  kinds  required  by  civilized  man  when  he 
undertakes  a  distant  journey.  Three  saddle-horses  trotted 
in  the  rear  of  the  convoy,  and  under  the  axles  of  the 
vehicles,  attached  by  a  chain,  were  two  wolf-dogs  of  Scotch 
breed,  whose  slender  form  and  well-shaped  head  were 
proofs — to  every  true  hunter's  eye — -that  in  these  animals 
strength  and  instinct  were  aided  by  very  great  velocity. 


A  BEAD-ROLL  OF  FAME.  349 

Moreover,  we  had  two  excellent  pointers, — Black  and 
Stop, — who  followed  our  caravan  without  being  held  in 
leash. 

We  were  all  armed  :  some  with  the  rifled  carbine,  short 
and  heavy,  of  unparalleled  precision  in  the  hand  of  a 
Kentuckian,  and  others  with  double-barrelled  guns.  As 
for  the  Canadians,  they  contented  themselves  with  plain 
French  duck-guns,  like  those  which  may  be  found  to  this 
very  day  in  the  old  farmhouses  of  southern  France.  Each 
of  us  carried,  moreover,  an  American  bowie-knife  ;  and,  in- 
stead of  our  European  garb,  we  had  all  assumed  the  Indian 
costume,  consisting  of  tight  trousers  of  tanned  deer-skin, 
a  blouse  of  the  same  material,  and  double-soled  moccasins. 

Large  woollen  caps  completed  this  carnavalesque  equip- 
ment ;  and  altogether  we  were  so  disguised  that  no  one,  I 
think,  would  have  recognized  Messrs.  Daniel  Simonton  of 
New  York,  George  Sears  of  Boston,  Horace  Mead  of 
Philadelphia,  Fortune  Delmot  of  Paris,  and  your  humble 
servant,  the  author  of  this  book.  As  for  the  Canadians, 
their  names  were  Duquesne,  Bonnet,  and  Gemmel. 

Having  set  out  from  St.  Louis  with  the  intention  of 
hunting  over  the  grounds  of  the  Sioux  and  Fox  Indians, 
we  counted  upon  spending  two  months  ''  under  canvas," 
and  had  made  up  our  minds  to  carry  back  with  us  to 
civilized  regions  an  ample  provision  of  mementoes  and 
trophies. 

Mr.  Simonton,  the  leader  of  our  party,  and  myself 
rode  at  the  head  of  the  caravan,  gossiping  about  the 
chase,  and  game,  and  miscellaneous  themes,  and  allowing 
our  horses,  on  whose  necks  we  had  thrown  the  reins,  to 
amble  along  at  their  ease. 


350  A  BATTLE  WITH  BISONS. 

**  Then/^  said  my  friend,  in  reply  to  one  of  my  remarks, 
'^  you  have  never  seen  a  bison,  alive  or  stuffed  !  I  promise 
you  that  before  to-morrow  you  shall  enjoy  the  pleasure. 
This  is  the  fourth  time  I  have  travelled  this  route,  and  I 
recognize  on  the  horizon  one  of  the  localities  frequented 
by  these  animals  :  you  will  see  if  I  am  mistaken.  I 
recollect,  two  years  ago,  after  my  last  hunting  excursion, 
arriving  in  the  middle  of  the  valley  which  you  see  down 
yonder,  and  which  forms  a  kind  of  irregular  circle,  whose 
circumference  is  discernible  from  every  side.  Suddenly 
I  heard  a  noise  in  the  distance,  like  a  clap  of  thunder. 
For  some  moments  I  wondered  what  could  possibly  be 
the  cause  of  the  unwonted  tumult ;  but  before  I  could 
put  any  question  to  my  Indian  companions  the  cause 
became  visible  :  and  it  was  not  without  a  deep  emotion 
I  watched  the  approach,  at  a  gallop,  through  every  pass 
and  ravine  opening  on  the  valley,  of  a  herd  of  bisons 
which,  without  exaggeration,  was  composed  of  ten  thou- 
sand heads. 

"  Prompt  as  thought,  the  eight  Sioux,  my  guides,  began 
firing,  and,  unable  to  remain  a  cold  spectator,  I  too  plunged 
into  the  glorious  fray.  The  detonation  of  our  muskets, 
the  bellows  of  terrified  bisons,  formed  a  scene  which  I 
am  wholly  unable  to  describe ;  and,  escaping  through 
every  opening,  the  herd  rapidly  took  leave  of  us,  aban- 
doning ten  of  their  number — three  dangerously  wounded, 
and  seven  dead — on  the  field.  Eor  an  hour  we  could 
hear  the  ground  echoing  with  the  report  of  the  hoofs  of 
the  fugitives. — Come  on,  my  friend ;  I  believe,  from 
some  particular  signs,  that  to-morrow  we  shall  begin  our 
chase." 

^'  I  accept  the  augury,"  I  replied  to  my  amiable  com- 


AN  INDIAN  CAMP.  351 

panion  ;  *^  for,  I  confess,  I  am  beginning  to  grow  tired  ; 
all  the  way  from  St.  Louis  we  have  not  had  a  chance  of 
a  shot  at  anything  larger  than  a  bird  or  a  hare." 

While  thus  conversing,  we  arrived  at  a  place  called 
Ehail  Bosiudatah, — or  ''  River  of  the  Lofty  King," — by 
the  Indians,  in  front  of  an  encampment  of  the  Sioux  In- 
dians, whose  wigwams  were  raised  along  the  bank  in  a 
picturesque  situation. 

This  camp  wore  a  singularly  curious  aspect  in  the  eyes 
of  a  European.  The  wigwams,  with  their  conical  roof, 
made  of  tanned  deer-skin,  and  ornamented  with  fantastic 
designs,  formed  a  semicircle,  in  the  midst  of  which,  sepa- 
rated from  the  others,  rose  a  tent  much  larger  and  more 
sumptuously  embellished  than  those  which  surrounded  it. 

Mr.  Simonton,  being  presented  to  the  chief  of  the  tribe, 
showed  him  the  cabalistic  pass  which  he  had  procured  at 
Washington,  at  the  office  of  the  Indian  Commission  ;  and 
Rahm-o-j-or  (for  so  the  chief  was  named)  gave  orders  that 
we  should  be  treated  as  chiefs  and  brothers. 

Faithful  to  the  traditions  of  his  fathers,  and  the  cus- 
toms of  his  nation,  the  chief  filled  with  fragrant  tobacco 
a  pipe  made  of  a  red  stone,  and  having  solemnly  inhaled 
a  few  pufis,  passed  it  on  to  Mr.  Simonton,  explaining  that 
was  the  most  sacred  pledge  he  could  give — a  pledge  from 
which  nothing  could  release  him — to  protect  his  new 
guests,  each  of  whom  in  turn  had  the  honour  of  smoking 
with  him  the  calumet  of  peace. 

The  tribe  of  Sioux,  among  whom  we  were  now  located, 
was  called  Whapootas,  and  counted  four  hundred  warriors, 
and  five  hundred  females.     Their  language  was  the  nar- 


352  INDIAN  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

cotahy  a  primitive  dialect,  which,  by  the  majority  of  eth- 
nologists, is  compared  to  the  Mantchou  Tartar. 

Truth  to  tell,  a  legend  related  to  me  round  the  camp- 
fire,  during  my  sojourn  among  the  Kedskins,  attributes 
the  origin  of  the  race  to  a  horde  of  Tartars,  who  had 
migrated  by  the  strait  which  separates  Asia  from 
America. 

The  men,  as  a  rule,  were  strong,  and  well-made.  I 
admired  their  regularity  of  features,  and  their  jet-black 
eyes.  Each  of  them  owned  a  well-bred  horse,  active, 
wiry,  and  spirited,  and,  moreover,  capable  of  great  en- 
durance. 

As  for  the  women,  graceful  and  pretty  up  to  their 
fourteenth  year,  they  grow  ugly  and  deformed  before  the 
age  at  which,  in  Europe,  we  consider  a  young  girl 
marriageable.  All,  men  and  women,  were  covered  with 
a  kind  of  garment  made  of  tanned  skins,  and  ornamented 
with  designs  tattooed,  by  a  peculiar  process,  in  red,  blue, 
and  black  :  a  short  blouse,  descending  just  below  the  hips, 
pantaloons  with  fringes  cut  out  of  the  cloth,  moccasins  on 
the  feet,  and  a  head-dress  composed  of  a  myriad  of  feathers 
of  all  kinds,  in  whose  midst  shone  conspicuous  the  stem 
of  an  eagle's  wing.  The  huts  under  which  these  Indians 
sheltered  themselves  from  the  sun  and  rain  were  fabri- 
cated, like  their  clothes,  out  of  tanned  skins,  ornamented 
with  porcupine  barbs,  and  supported  by  slender  wooden 
poles,  so  planted  as  effectually  to  resist  the  most  impetu- 
ous wind. 

Such  was  the  appearance  of  the  camp  to  which  chance 
had  conducted  my  companions  and  myself.  They  hastened 
to  unload  the  cars,  to  place  under  shelter  the  cooking 
utensils — such  as  the  pots  and  pans,  indispensable  to  every 


ON  THE  MARCH.  353 

trapper,  who,  for  the  very  reason  that  he  lives  in  the 
heart  of  immeasurable  abundance,  becomes  more  delicate 
and  difficult  to  satisfy. 

In  the  evening,  thanks  to  the  care  of  our  Canadians, 
our  encampment  was  in  excellent  order ;  we  supped  in  a 
very  comfortable  manner,  sharing  with  the  Indians  a  roast 
joint  of  exquisitely  flavoured  venison ;  we  recruited  our 
strength,  and  soon  yielded  ourselves  up  to  slumber. 

Our  arrangements  had  been  made  during  the  evening 
with  Rahm-o-j-or,  through  the  agency  of  Duquesne,  one 
of  our  Canadians,  who,  thanks  to  a  long  residence  among 
the  Redskins,  knew  enough  of  their  language  to  act  as 
interpreter.  For  a  monthly  sum  of  six  dollars  per  head 
we  were  to  be  guided,  protected,  and  sheltered  by  the 
Sioux,  and  afterwards  reconducted  to  the  frontiers  of 
Missouri. 

Next  morning,  all  the  tribe  was  on  foot ;  it  had  been 
decided  that  we  should  encamp  at  about  twenty  miles 
further  west,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ayoua.  All  the  horses 
of  the  Indians  were  loaded  with  baggage ;  and  the  very 
women,  those  poor  helots  of  savage  life,  performed  the 
office  of  beasts  of  burden,  carrying  heavy  loads  which  our 
European  porters  could  hardly  have  lifted  upon  their 
shoulders.  -     ' 

In  general,  those  who  marched  unencumbered,  without 
their  shoulders  being  bent  under  any  kind  of  burden, 
were  the  beauties  of  the  tribe  ;  beautiful  in  spite  of  the 
reddish  colour  of  their  skins  ;  graceful,  in  spite  of  the  un- 
gainly costume  which  concealed  the  swelling  outlines  of 
their  figures.  The  only  task  imposed  upon  these  was  to 
lead  the  horses  by  their  bridles. 

We  started  on  our  journey,  acting  as  scouts  and  skir- 
(4U)  23 


354  HOW  THE  SIOUX  HUNT. 

mishers  to  the  caravan,  which  extended  over  a  distance  of 
two  miles.  The  aged  women  cried,  the  children  wept, 
the  innumerable  dogs  barked  loudly ;  in  a  word,  such  an 
uproar  and  confusion  had  never  before  struck  my  eyes 
and  ears.  It  is  customary  on  these  occasions  to  halt  at 
the  end  of  a  couple  of  leagues,  for  the  purpose  of  unloading 
the  horses,  and  allowing  them  to  graze  for  half  an  hour. 

After  the  second  halt,  the  hunters  of  the  tribe, — ^that 
is  to  say,  the  youngest  and  nimblest, — separate  from  the 
main  body  of  the  troop,  and  scatter  themselves  over  the 
surface  of  the  prairies,  tracking  the  game  with  as  much 
sagacity  as  the  most  skilful  pointer  ever  trained  by  a 
European  huuter.  The  Redskins  know  nothing  of  our 
peaceful  mode  of  hunting ;  and  instead  of  following  the 
trail  as  we  do  in  silence,  they  dash,  with  a  whoop  and  a 
shout,  headlong  into  the  midst  of  almost  impenetrable 
thickets.  So,  as  soon  as  they  have  started  a  stag  or  an 
antelope,  if  it  escape  the  carbine  of  him  who  first  descries 
it,  it  canjiot  go  far ;  at  a  few  paces  it  encounters  another 
Indian,  who  proves  more  adroit  or  more  fortunate  than  his 
comrade. 

If  the  snow  is  on  the  ground,  however,  the  Sioux  hun- 
ters proceed  very  differently.  One  of  them  follows  up  the 
traces  of  a  stag  until  he  arrives  near  the  lair  where  he 
has  taken  refuge;  he  goes  round  it  carefully,  to  make 
sure  that  the  animal  is  within  it ;  then  he  strikes  into  the 
middle  of  the  copse,  describing  a  circle  which  he  gradually 
narrows  until  he  alights  upon  the  retreat  of  the  noble 
beast;  and  keeping  himself  constantly  on  the  qui-vive,  he 
is  especially  careful  not  to  meet  the  animal  full  face. 
The  stag  springs  forth,  and,  swifter  than  lightning,  the 
Indian's  rifle  stretches  him  on  the  soil. 


A  SHOT  AT  AN  ANTELOPE.  355 

On  the  occasion  I  am  describing,  two  of  my  com- 
panions, Messrs.  George  Sears  and  Delmot,  joined  me  in 
the  chase. 

We  started  in  single  file;  but  soon,  behind  a  clump  of 
cotton-trees,  our  dogs  hit  upon  a  scent,  and  I  dashed  ofi* 
after  them  along  a  little  rivulet  winding  and  murmuring 
through  the  herbage.  I  forgot  to  call  to  my  two  friends, 
and  rode  a  league  "  in  hot  haste  "  and  without  a  pause. 
Black  and  Stop,  whose  headlong  course  almost  distanced 
my  splendid  mare,  drove  before  them  a  magnificent  ante- 
lope, who,  unfortunately,  had  got  very  much  the  start  of 
his  pursuers.  Having  reached  the  summit  of  a  moderate 
ascent,  I  perceived  in  front  of  me  a  yawning  ravine,  open- 
ing at  right-angles  with  the  upper  waters  of  the  brook. 
Thither  I  directed  my  horse,  in  the  somewhat  uncertain 
hope  that  the  animal  would  make  for  the  same  point,  in 
order  to  seek  a  passage  into  the  broad  savannah  beyond. 

I  had  scarcely  time  to  hide  my  horse  behind  a  clump 
of  stunted  bushes,  and  to  stretch  myself  on  the  ground, 
concealed  by  the  inequalities  of  the  ravine  and  the  high 
grass  which  covered  them,  before  the  two  spiral  horns  of 
the  antelope  rose  clearly  defined  against  the  azure  sky, 
and  soon  I  distinctly  caught  sight  of  the  animal,  with  the 
two  dogs  at  his  heels,  coming,  with  swift  bounds  and 
leaps,  right  in  my  direction. 

*^  He  is  a  dead  creature  ! ''  thought  I  to  myself,  selling 
the  skin  of  the  antelope  before  I  had  brought  him  to  the 
earth. 

The  animal  galloped  at  such  a  rate  that  he  was  not 
more  than  two  hundred  paces  from  me,  when  I  perceived 
three  jets  of  smoke  rise  simultaneously  at  his  side,  and 
the  vibi^ating  air  repeated  the  discharge  of  three  muskets ; 


356  AN  UNWELCOME  INTRUDER. 

not  one  of  them,  however,  hit  the  noble  beast,  which,  in  a 
contemptuous  manner,  continued  his  gallop  in  my  direction. 
My  heart  beat  with  emotion  and  desire:  with  my  eye  fixed 
on  the  sight  of  my  rifle,  I  kept  the  antelope  under  aim, 
ready  to  pull  the  trigger,  when,  at  twenty  yards  from  my 
hiding-place,  a  fourth  repprt  startled  the  echoes,  and  I  saw 


HE   CONTINUED    Hi8   OA1,LOP   IN   MY    D^I^ECTION. 

my  coveted  prey,  which  I  had  looked  upon  as  peculiarly 
my  own,  roll  lifeless  on  the  blood-bedabbled  grass.  At 
the  same  moment,  an  Indian,  emerging  from  the  shade  of 
the  cotton-trees,  filled  the  air  with  his  shrill  whoop,  in 
token  of  victory.  I  confess  I  felt  so  furious,  that,  for  a 
moment,  I  entertained  the  fatal  thought  of  lodging  a 
bullet  in  the  head  of  the  Sioux ;  but  I  soon  shook  ofi*  the 
criminal  feeling,  and  called  my  dogs,  vowing  that  never 
again  would  I  separate  myself  from  other  hunters,  nor 
run  the  risk  of  having  my  own  proper  booty  carried  off 
under  my  very  nose. 

When  one  hunts  in  company  in  the  American  prairies, 


EVENING  IN  THE  CAMP.  357 

there  exists  a  custom,  not  without  its  good  side  for  those 
who  have  a  sharp  appetite. 

To  the  hunter  sufficiently  fortunate  to  kill  a  large 
animal  belong  his  haunch  and  pasterns ;  the  remainder 
is  equally  divided  among  his  less  successful  comrades. 
This  rule  is  without  exception,  and  it  is  very  just ;  for 
with  the  egotistical  spirit  which  animates  the  Indians,  if 
a  few  monopolized  to  themselves  the  whole  of  their  spoil, 
the  greater  number  would  perish  from  starvation.  The 
moment  a  stag,  an  antelope,  or  a  bison  is  brought  to  the 
ground,  he  who  kills  it  lies  down  in  calm  indifference, 
kindles  his  pipe,  and  patiently  waits  until  his  comrades 
have  completed  the  cutting  up,  and  selected  his  portion, 
which  he  accepts  without  a  word. 

I  returned  to  the  camp  sorely  disappointed ;  and  I 
confess,  the  only  thing  that  mitigated  my  vexation  was 
the  fact  that  my  companions,  Messrs.  Sears  and  Delmot, 
had  not  been  more  fortunate  than  myself. 

In  the  evening,  as  the  reader  will  suppose,  the  Indians 
assembled  in  great  numbers  round  the  blazing  camp-fire  : 
each  related  his  adventures  during  the  day;  and  the 
horrible  rascal  who  had  played  me  so  knavish  a  trick  did 
not  lose  the  opportunity  of  trumpeting  forth  his  skill 
among  his  admiring  companions.  He  even  thought  him- 
self authorized  to  excite  a  laugh  at  my  expense;  but 
through  my  glasses  I  looked  at  him  in  so  irate  a  manner 
that  he  stopped,  and  changed  the  subject  of  his  pleasan- 
tries, affording  me,  a  Pale-face,  the  satisfaction  of  having 
made  a  Sioux  trapper  turn  red  at  his  conduct. 

The  following  morning,  after  a  peaceful  night — whose 
calm  was  only  interrupted  by  the  howling  of  the  camp 
dogs,  who,  with  one  consent,  regaled  us  with  the  most 


358  FIRE  ON  THE  PRAIRIE  ! 

frightful  music  that  ever  kept  awake  a  worn  and  weary  man 
— all  the  tribe  resumed  their  journey  ;  while  we  continued 
to  hunt,  as  on  the  day  before,  on  the  flanks  of  the  caravan. 

This  day  we  killed  a  great  number  of  prairie-hens, — a 
kind  of  pheasant  which  swarms  in  the  high  grass,  and 
which  rose  before  our  dogs  with  as  much  nonchalance  as 
a  hen  rises  in  a  poultry-yard. 

In  the  evening,  when  we  returned  to  camp,  wc  found 
our  allies  sheltered  by  a  wood  of  cotton-trees  and  dwarf 
oaks,  through  which  a  streamlet  forced  its  passage. 

In  the  middle  of  the  night  we  were  aroused  by  the 
terrible  cry  of  "  Fire  !  "  We  were  all  awakened  by  the 
horrible  bowlings  of  the  Indians,  who,  in  the  greatest 
confusion,  hastened  to  fly  towards  the  north,  in  the 
direction  of  a  lofty  mountain,  which  raised  its  gaunt 
form  sheer  up  from  the  middle  of  a  lake.  In  fact,  at  a 
distance  of  only  three  miles  in  our  rear,  the  prairie  had 
caught  fire,  and  the  flames  were  striding  onward  with  the 
rapidity  of  a  horse  at  full  gallop,  driven  by  a  wind  which 
threatened  to  develop  into  a  tempest.  Nothing  can  be 
compared  to  the  sublime  horror  of  this  spectacle  !  Figure 
to  yourself  a  shroud  of  fire,  a  train  of  gunpowder  lighting 
up  with  a  horrible  crepitation,  fantastic  forms  moving  to 
and  fro,  and  animals  of  all  species  hastening  to  eflect  their 
escape  from  death. 

When  we  arrived  on  the  sandy  shore  of  the  lake,  in 
whose  vicinity  nothing  combustible  was  growing,  the  fire 
gained  upon  us  ;  and  it  was  not  without  returning  thanks 
to  Providence  that  we  reached  the  other  side  of  the  pro- 
tecting wMers,  which  thus  delivered  an  entire  tribe  from 
a  most  terrible  death.  To  be  devoured  alive  by  fire  !  How 
horrible  a  punishment  ! 


ESCAPING  TO  THE  MOUNTAINS.  359 

Gradually,  as  the  flames  ceased  to  find  fresh  food,  the 
light  went  down,  and  died  into  darkness.  We  then  called 
over  the  roll  of  our  little  troop  :  not  one  was  missing. 

When  day  dawned  brightly  on  the  landscape  around 
us,  the  horrible  death  from  which  we  had  so  narrowly 
escaped  was  presented  to  our  eyes  in  all  its  frightful 
reality.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  take  in  the  route  which 
my  companions  and  I  had  followed  for  the  last  week,  we 
perceived  a  calcined  soil,  black  as  coal ;  and  here  and 
there,  around  a  tree  which  had  exhibited  more  tenacity 
than  the  grasses,  flames  coiling  in  spirals,  and  piles  of  still 
smoking  ashes. 

Along  a  water-course,  which  poured  its  tribute  into  the 
lake,  the  devastating  fire  had  been  arrested ;  and  the  chief 
of  the  tribe  gave  us  to  understand  that  this  was  very  fortu- 
nate for  our  projects,  since  on  the  other  side  we  should 
find  the  country  where  we  were  going  to  hunt.  Rahm-o- 
j-or,  however,  was  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  prudent  to 
wait  a  day  longer  on  the  mountain,  so  that  the  fire  might 
completely  die  out. 

On  a  rocky  soil,  thinly  covered  with  a  short  hard  grass, 
the  Sioux  pitched  their  tents;  and  while  Duquesne, 
Bonnet,  and  Gemmel  occupied  themselves  with  the  details 
of  our  household  economy,  Messrs.  Simonton,  Sears,  and 
myself  resolved  to  visit  the  boundaries  of  the  clifi'-girt 
island  in  which  the  fire  had  compelled  us  to  seek  an 
asylum.  On  the  prairie  side  the  mountain  was  separated 
from  the  shore  only  by  a  very  shallow  and  narrow  channel, 
which  we  had  easily  forded ;  but,  on  advancing  towards 
the  north-west,  the  lake  spread  out  its  waters  for  upwards 


360 


THE  GREAT  LAKE. 


"  CLOUDS   OF  PENGUINS   AND   GULLS   ESCAPED. 

of  a  league ;  and  on  its  surface,  smooth  and  glassy,  aquatic 
birds  hovered  in  such  numbers  as  to  obscure  the  light. 


THE  RETREAT  OF  THE  HERONS.  3G1 

By  following  a  difficult  and  almost  impracticable  route 
along  the  shore,  my  comrades  and  I  arrived  at  the  foot  of 
a  precipitous  cliff,  bathed  by  the  waters  of  the  lake.  An 
astonishing  spectacle  was  here  presented  !  From  every 
ledge  and  fissure  of  the  rock  clouds  of  penguins  and  gulls 
escaped,  their  white  breasts  and  black  wings  sparkling 
in  the  sun.  These  birds  opened  their  slender  beaks  and 
uttered  sob-like  cries. 

Some  herons  had  also  chosen  a  resting-place  on  this 
granite  rock,  in  whose  interstices  the  dead  branches 
resembled  sticks  planted  in  the  soil.  A  layer  of  moss 
and  clay  covered  them,  and  on  this  slippery  support  rested 
the  noble  birds,  near  a  nest  woven  of  slender  twigs,  in 
which  the  young  herons  received  from  the  bills  of  their 
parents  their  accustomed  nourishment.  We  counted 
seventy-two,  pressing  one  against  another,  and  saluting 
their  neighbours,  like  so  many  Chinese  mandarins,  with 
unalterable  gravity.  Nothing  more  comical  can  be  con- 
ceived than  the  solemnity  and  mechanical  slowness  with 
which  each  reverence  was  accompanied.  My  friends  and 
I,  hidden  behind  a  fallen  block,  contemplated  the  scene 
with  the  greatest  interest.  Every  now  and  then  a  few 
herons  would  swoop  down  upon  the  branches,  whence  they 
precipitated  in  disorder  those  who  were  tranquilly  perched 
thereon.  Harsh  croakings  testified  to  the  public  indig- 
nation excited  by  the  conduct  of  the  unneighbourly  in- 
truders. 

Among  this  troop  of  birds,  and  round  and  above  our 
heads,  the  gulls  cleft  the  air  with  a  truly  incredible 
familiarity ;  they  fanned  us  with  their  wings,  and  halted 
at  a  few  paces  off,  uttering  wild  and  plaintive  groans,  and 
regarding  us  with  an  air  of  the  greatest  astonishment. 


362  WHOLESALE  SLAUGHTER. 

Suddenly  two  black  points  became  visible  on  the  hori- 
zon ;  these  were  a  couple  of  great  eagles  flying  at  full 
speed  in  our  direction.  The  instinct  of  preservation 
revealed  their  advent  to  the  whole  of  the  feathered  re- 
public ;  the  mothers  beat  the  air  with  frenzied  wings,  and 
the  fathers  opened  their  pointed  beaks — a  terrible  weapon 
when  it  strikes  a  foe. 

All  was  useless  :  seizing  a  favourable  moment,  the  two 
birds  of  prey  pounced  each  upon  a  young  heron,  clutching 
it  in  their  formidable  talons ;  then,  regardless  of  the 
clamours  of  the  Nestors  of  that  winged  host,  they  darted 
out  of  range,  and  disappeared  from  our  gaze. 

This  scene  had  passed  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning. 
My  friends  and  I  would  fain  have  brought  down  both  of 
these  feathered  assassins  ;  but,  alas  !  they  were  far  away, 
and  lest  we  should  further  terrify  the  birds  of  this  mira- 
culous cliff,  we  thought  it  best  to  reserve  our  fire.  It 
was  well  we  did  so,  for,  gliding  gently  along  the  rock,  we 
got  within  a  short  distance  of  the  herons,  and  all  three 
simultaneously  discharging  our  six  barrels  at  them,  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  bringing  down  eleven  enormous  birds  ; 
while  those  who  survived  this  unexpected  discharge  took 
flight,  and  disappeared  in  the  air,  even  abandoning — so 
great  was  their  alarm — the  nests  containing  their  young 
nurslings. 

The  gulls  alone  seemed  to  despise  the  danger ;  and  the 
penguins,  scattered  in  their  midst,  hovered  upon  the 
waves,  without  venturing  to  too  great  a  distance  from  the 
shore. 

Continuing  our  excursion  around  the  rock,  we  soon 
arrived  in  sight  of  the  camp,  whose  huts,  which  we  had 


APPEARANCE  OF  THE  BISONS.  363 

left  standing  two  hours  before,  were  struck,  folded,  and 
ready  for  removal ;  horses  were  neighing,  and  dogs  bark- 
ing ;  the  Kedskins,  men  and  women,  stirring  about  in  all 
directions.  This  state  of  affairs  greatly  alarmed  us,  and 
we  quickened  our  steps  to  ascertain  its  cause. 

As  soon  as  they  perceived  us  descending  the  barren 
rocks  leading  to  the  bank  of  the  channel  of  which  I  have 
spoken,  they  made  us  a  sign  to  hasten,  and  Messrs.  Mead 
and  Delmot,  who,  out  of  fatigue  or  idleness,  had  remained 
in  the  camp,  ran  to  meet  us,  with  eyes  sparkling,  and  face 
radiant,  exclaiming, — 

"  Come,  my  friends,  come  !  We  are  only  waiting  for 
you  !" 

"  What  is  it '?  "  the  three  of  us  exclaimed. 

^' The  bisons!'^ 

"  Look  yonder,  on  the  other  side  of  the  canal !  Don't 
you  see  that  black  and  compact  mass  which  seems  to 
advance  like  a  cloud  filled  with  water,  around  which  the 
thunder  and  the  lightning  gravitate  :  it  is  the  bisons  !" 

It  was  so.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  towards  the 
northern  line  of  the  horizon,  we  perceived  these  animals 
peacefully  browsing  the  tall  grass  of  the  prairie,  and  some- 
times plucking  off  the  verdant  clusters  of  the  cotton- 
trees. 

For  us  Europeans,  who  had  never  seen  any  bulls  except 
in  their  domesticated  condition,  and  in  small  herds  of  two 
or  three  hundred  heads  at  the  utmost,  the  spectacle  of  all 
these  animals — evidently  five  to  six  thousand  in  number 
— caused  us  a  joy  almost  too  rapturous  to  be  endured. 
To  set  out  immediately  and  attack  the  bisons,  such  was 
our  burning  desire;    it  required  the  grave  and  senten- 


364  A  SIOUX  CHIEF. 

tious  wisdom  of  Ralim-o-j-or,  as  translated  by  Duquesne, 
our  sworn  interpreter,  to  restrain  our  heedless  impetuosity. 
*^  The  Pale-faces,"  he  said,  ''  are  too  easily  excited ;  they 
must  learn  the  patience  which  only  is  successful,  and  the 
stratagems  which  their  brothers  of  the  great  desert  will 
teach  them,  if  they  would  prevail  over  the  bison.  Listen 
to  my  resolve  :  Our  troop  is  about  to  march,  divided  into 
two  bodies.  The  one  will  advance  towards  the  west,  the 
other  towards  the  north,  along  the  brook,  to  surprise  the 
quadrupeds  against  the  wind,  and  immediately  surround 
them.  This  is  the  sole  means  by  which  success  can  be 
ensured ;  and  before  two  hours  are  over  the  Pale-faces 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  finding  themselves  in  front  of 
the  bisons." 

Pahm-o-j-or  had  scarcely  finished  speaking  before  he 
sprang  on  the  back  of  his  black  horse  ;  a  noble  beast, 
whose  obedience  was  so  complete  that  his  master's  word 
had  more  effect  than  bit  or  spur. 

To  see  this  warrior-chief,  his  shoulders  half  covered  by 
a  panther's  skin,  his  legs  enveloped  in  leggings  and  mocca- 
sins, his  head  bristling  with  rough  and  unkempt  locks, 
his  weapons  a  short,  flexible  bow  and  a  quiverful  of 
arrows,  you  would  have  taken  him  for  a  resuscitation  of 
Nimrod,  the  mighty  hunter  of  antediluvian  times. 

After  recommending  us  to  observe  the  greatest  silence, 
he  gave  the  signal  of  departure ;  and  we  Europeans  being 
placed  in  the  centre  of  the  Sioux  picked  out  for  the  chase, 
we  advanced  in  good  order,  following  Pahm-o-j-or,  who 
had  assigned  us  the  post  of  honour  on  each  side  of  him. 
With  a  gesture  he  pointed  out  to  the  troop  who  were  to 
march  westward  the  route  they  would  have  to  follow ; 


ON  THE  QUI-VIVE.  365 

and  suddenly  darting  forward,  he  carried  with  hini  the 
whole  body  of  hunters,  every  man  being  animated  with  his 
own  enthusiasm — an  enthusiasm  only  moderated  by  a 
knowledge  of  the  country,  a  scientific  acquaintance  with 
the  rules  of  the  chase,  and  the  familiarity  most  of  us  pos- 
sessed with  the  habits  of  the  bisons. 

It  is  advisable  I  should  here  inform  my  readers  that 
the  innumerable  herds  which  pasture  on  the  velvety 
sward  of  the  American  prairies  are  always  on  the  qui-vive. 
The  Indians  hunt  them  so  constantly ;  the  cayeutes,  like 
bold  and  formidable  wolf-hounds,  attack  them  so  often, 
that  every  animal  divines  approaching  danger  with  extra- 
ordinary instinct  :  with  nostrils  to  the  wind,  and  ears 
erect,  the  bisons  gathered  round  the  bigger  members  of 
the  herd  (who  ai-e  always  the  oldest  and  most  experienced) 
resemble  so  many  advanced  posts,  ready  to  give  the  alarm 
at  the  slightest  ii^dication  of  au  enemy. 

Thanks  to  the  undulations  of  the  ground,  with  all  of 
which  Kahm^o-j-or  was  perfectly  f^^miliar,  we  contrived 
to  get  within  two  gunshot  ranges  of  the  nearest  bison, — 
an  enormous  beast,  with  a  hairy  hump,  with  feet  light 
and  flexible  as  steel, — who,  though  his  eyes  were  turned 
in  our  direction,  appeared  wholly  unsuspicious  of  our 
approach.  The  soil  over  which  our  horses  galloped  was 
not  a  good  conductor  of  sound,  and  the  wind  blew  so 
violently,  striking  us  in  the  face,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  our  quadrupedal  sentinel  either  to  hear  our  coming  or 
to  sniff  the  proximity  of  man. 

Suddenly  a  terrible  noise  was  heard ;  the  entire  herd 


366  ONSET  OF  THE  HERD. 

had  taken  the  alarm,  and  commenced  a  stampede.  Wo 
had  arrived  almost  within  range  of  the  noble  animals,  and 
yet  they  had  not  discovered  us ;  but  the  Redskins,  who 
had  made  a  circuit  to  windward,  had  been  seen  and  scented 
from  afar,  and  hence,  by  a  fortunate  chance,  the  "  retreat 
of  the  six  thousand"  took  place  in  our  direction.  Never 
had  the  famous  line  of  the  Mantuan  bard, — 

**  Quadrupedante  putrem  sonitu  quatit  ungula  campum," 

produced  upon  me  a  euphony  so  full  of  reality.  The 
noise  made  by  the  bisons,  who  shook  the  soil  with  a  short 
regular  trot,  like  that  of  an  army  on  the  march,  rever- 
berated on  the  air,  and  echoed  sonorously  in  our  ears. 

Rahm-o-j-or  had  bent  his  bow. 

In  his  right  hand  he  held  an  arrow,  with  an  iron  nail 
at  its  tip, — a  weapon  rude  and  rough,  but  in  reality  very 
formidable. 

As  for  us  Europeans,  we  sighted  our  rifles,  and  renewed 
their  caps. 

"  Attention  ! "  cried  the  chief,  in  a  half-stifled  voice ; 
"the  moment  is  come  !" 

He ,  had  scarcely  uttered  the  words  before  the  whole 
mass  came  swooping  upon  us,  with  a  noise  like  that  of  a 
clap  of  thunder. 

It  was  a  critical  moment  *  we  were  compelled  to  show 
ourselves,  so  as  to  force  the  bisons  to  retrace  their  course. 
Following  the  movements  of  the  Sioux  chief,  we  sprang 
forward  into  open  ground,  so  as  to  find  our  force  full  in 
view  of  the  astonished  herd. 

Oh  ye,  my  beloved  brothers  in  the  honourable  guild  of 
St.  Hubert,  may  your  patron,  before  ye  die,  favour  ye 
with  a  spectacle  such  as  da^izled  and  delighted  my  wonder- 


A  GENERAL  MASSACRE.  367 

ing  gaze  when  I  reached  the  summit  of  the  ridge  along 
which  we  had  been  hitherto  advancing  !  Never  in  my 
life  shall  I  forget  the  sight  I  saw  on  the  27th  of  October 
1845  !  Before  me  swept  a  torrent  of  huge  animals, 
bellowing  with  incredible  energy,  and  galloping  more 
swiftly  than  a  horse  at  its  utmost  speed. 

"Mort!  tue !  whoop  1"  howled  the  Sioux  in  their 
expressive  language;  and  yet,  among  this  section  of  the 
tribe,  Rahm-o-j-or  alone  had  driven  his  horse  into  the 
middle  of  the  herd.  His  eagle-eye  had  discovered  the 
largest  beast,  and  his  nimble  arms  pierced  his  heaving 
sides  with  a  cloud  of  arrows  discharged  with  prodigious 
vigour.  Following  in  his  rear,  I  poured  into  this  royal 
animal  both  barrels  of  my  rifle ;  the  balls  penetrated  his 
flesh,  but  did  not  inflict  a  mortal  wound.  Suddenly,  the 
tenth  arrow  of  Rahm-o-j-or,  passing  through  the  animal's 
carotid  artery,  arrested  his  wandering  course,  and  he  fell 
heavily  to  the  ground,  like  a  rock  loosened  from  a  moun- 
tain-side, with  a  crash  like  that  of  an  avalanche. 

While  Rahm-o-j-or,  at  a  single  coup,  thus  cut  short 
the  life  of  the  gigantic  bison,  his  subjects,  in  the  thick  of 
the  frightened  herd,  which  rushed  to  and  fro  in  all  direc- 
tions, were  accomplishing  an  apparently  interminable 
slaughter.  The  sight  of  the  blood  flowing  from  each 
animaFs  side  seemed  to  augment  their  ardour,  and  on 
every  side  we  heard  a  fusillade,  mingled  with  the  hissing 
of  rapid  arrows.  Had  it  been  possible  to  "  assi-st"  calmly 
and  composedly  at  this  universal  excitement,  and  study 
its  details  with  care,  nothing  could  have  offered  to  a 
romancist  or  a  painter  a  more  admirable  subject  for  his 
descriptive  powers ;  but,  involved  in  the  very  centre  of 


368  SKILL  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

this  vortex  of  men  and  beasts,  I  could  only  see — swift 
as  lightning — some  incident  transpiring  under  my  very 
eyes,  applaud  a  skilful  shot,  or  burn  my  powder  like  my 
comrades.  The  universal  rage  which  had  seized  upon  us 
blinded  our  eyes,  and  rendered  us  half  mad. 

This  wild  rush,  which  lasted  about  half-an-hour,  was 
nearly  concluded,  when  frantic  cries  arose  in  every  direc- 
tion of  '^  The  cows  !  the  cows  !"  And  the  horses,  spurred 
amain  towards  a  different  quarter,  fell  into  the  thick  of 
another  herd  consisting  of  more  than  five  or  six  thousand 
bisons,  who  had  not  taken  flight  at  the  noise  of  our  first 
skirmish. 

In  the  bison  herds  it  always  happens  that  the  bulls  are 
separated  from  the  cows ;  the  bulls  forming  an  advanced 
corps  d^armee,  while  the  others  form  the  reserve.  To  reach 
the  latter  it  is  necessary  to  traverse  the  phalanx  composed 
of  the  bulls,  and  in  this  lies  the  danger.  For  example, 
one  of  the  Indians,  thrown  ofi*  his  horse,  which  had  been 
gored  and  rendered  furious  by  a  wounded  bison,  was 
trodden  under  foot  by  the  animal,  and  his  nearly  sense- 
less body  tossed  to  and  fro  like  a  shuttlecock.  It  necessi- 
tated the  miscellaneous  discharge  of  three  carbines  to 
terminate  this  double  agony, 

I  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
Indians  fired  their  guns.  Not  less  astonishing  was  their 
manner  of  loading.  The  gun  was  greased  only  on  the 
first  occasion ;  afterwards,  the  Sioux  were  content  with 
pouring  in  a  charge  of  powder;  then,  holding  three  or 
four  bullets  in  their  mouth,  they  insinuated  them  into  the 
barrel  by  the  agency  of  their  lips  ;  and  the  ball  dropping, 
moist  with  saliva,  adhered  sufiiciently  to  the  powder. 


SOUNDING  THE  RECALL. 


369 


The  second  "steeple-chase" — in  pursuit  of  the  cows 
• — lasted  about  twenty  minutes.  The  recall  was  then 
sounded  by  a  young 
Sioux,  who,  with  a 
wooden  trumpet,  ut- 
tered three  distinct 
notes  by  separate  ac- 
tions of  the  tongue, 
and  repeated  them 
rapidly  after  their 
first  intonation.  The 
primitive  herald 
obeyed  the  orders  of 
Rahm-o-j-or,  and 
soon  all  our  company 
reassembled  in  the 
centre  of  the  battle- 
field, where  they  be- 
gan to  count  the  slain. 
All  the  bisons  had 
not  fallen  in  the  same 
place  j  their  carcasses 
were  scattered  all  a- 
long  the  line  of  flight 
followed  by  the  start- 
led herd,  which  was  now  disappearing  rapidly  in  the  mists 
of  the  horizon. 

The  official  report  delivered  to  the  Sioux  chieftain 
numbered  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  bisons  as  ready  to 
be  cut  up.  Among  these  were  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
bulls,  and  thirty-two  cows ;  the  latter  were  far  preferable 
to  the  former  as  food,  for  the  flesh  of  the  bull  is  muskv, 


^-^-■\   -:::— ^ 

^ 

- ::? 

-.-^^^=^  -^=-  - .. 

^^^^^mms. 

-  '   :^  ====-■= — ^= =^ 

s^-^^=^^^gsg:^^ig 

^^^■r-^:=^^^:=.r^^^     _ 

^B^.'  VA%^^S 

^^ 

^^^^■s^ 

..-"^           - 

^^^^^^^g^^^g 

111^^^^^;  ^">^^;^ 

:^^^msM^^^^ 

H 

^^^m 

IBnlB 

1 

\|^^^^^^lft^^^3 

^■lv|M 

■■l^^^l 

Hh 

A  YOUMG  SIOUX,  WITH  A  WOODEN  TRUMPET. 


370  DIVIDING  THE  SPOIL. 

leathery,  and  lean.  That  of  the  cows,  on  the  contrary,  is 
as  fat  as  the  finest  butcher-meat ;  and  when  the  animals 
were  stripped  of  their  hide,  we  found  underneath  a  layer 
of  fat  two  inches  deep. 

My  friends,  Messrs.  Sears,  Simonton,  and  Delmot,  had 
each  killed  a  bison;  Mr.  Mead  and  myself  could  pretend 
only  to  a  share  in  the  chase.  As  for  our  Canadians, 
Bonnet,  Duquesne,  and  Gemmel,  each  of  the  three  had 
killed  a  superb  cow,  which  they  contemplated  with  delight, 
and  were  engaged  in  flaying  when  we  came  upon  the  scene. 

The  first  operation  undertaken  by  the  Indians,  after 
carefully  stripping  the  animals  of  their  skins,  was  to 
draw  out  the  intestines,  and  put  them  aside  for  a  bonne 
houche.  Next  they  proceeded  to  remove  the  hump,  a 
fleshy  and  fatty  portion  whose  reputation  is  unrivalled 
among  the  epicures  of  every  country.  After  this,  they  cut 
the  fillets,  and  some  other  much  appreciated  portions,  fit 
for  curing,  in  case  of  an  unforeseen  scarcity  arising. 

When  these  preparations  were  completed,  they  began 
to  think  seriously  of  the  repast,  or  rather  orgie,  which, 
in  the  American  prairies,  invariably  follows  a  successful 
hunt.  While  the  Sioux  had  been  engaged  cutting  up 
their  prizes,  the  women,  who  had  hitherto  remained  in 
the  camp,  arrived  upon  the  scene  of  our  exploits.  When 
the  bisons  had  been  portioned  out,  they  wrapped  up  in 
their  skins  the  pieces  selected  by  the  hunters,  and  carried 
them  to  the  wigwam,  preceding  the  conquerors,  who 
closed  the  march,  mounted  on  their  smoking  and  sweat- 
ing steeds ;  the  said  steeds  responding  with  loud  neighs 
to  the  guttural  whoops  of  their  riders. 

"  Sur  un  tapis  de  verdure, 
Le  couvert  fut  bientot  mis." 


AN  INDIAN  ORGIE.  .  371 

On  a  carpet  of  verdure  the  cloth  was  speedily  laid ;  and 
while  the  women  washed  the  entrails  of  the  bisons  in  the 
waters  of  the  lake,  the  men  dug  a  series  of  holes  in  the 
ground,  and  placed  in  each  hole  a  layer  of  stones,  which 
they  covered  with  burning  wood  and  crackling  boughs. 
As  soon  as  the  stones  were  thoroughly  heated,  they  swept 
out  this  new  kind  of  oven  until  it  was  as  clean  as  a  baker^s; 
then  they  threw  in  the  pieces  of  meat,  which,  placed  one 
upon  another,  and  covered  with  red-hot  pebbles  and  burn- 
ing turf,  cooked  slowly  and  gently,  retaining  all  their 
savour  and  juices. 

While  waiting  until  the  joints  were  ready,  the  Sioux, 
as  a  prelude  to  the  joys  of  the  banquet,  devoured  what, 
in  the  American  wilderness,  is  called  the  pudding  ;  that 
is,  the  half-cleansed  entrails  of  bisons  freshly  slain. 

My  attention  and  that  of  my  companions  was  soon 
arrested  by  the  gluttony  of  two  Indians,  who  crouched 
opposite  one  another,  separated  only  by  a  mass  of  pudding, 
partly  grilled  in  the  embers,  and  heaped  upon  a  stone, — 
looking  for  all  the  world  like  the  coil  of  an  enormous 
serpent.  They  had  seized  upon  the  two  ends  of  the  still 
smoking  entrails,  which  they  swallowed  without  masticat- 
ing, as  a  Neapolitan  does  a  dish  of  macaroni.  Curious, 
in  truth,  was  the  spectacle  of  these  savages  hastening 
to  devour  the  nauseous  food,  thrusting  it  down  their 
throats  with  their  fingers,  and  scarcely  stopping  to  make 
one  another  promise  that  no  unfair  haste  should  be  em- 
ployed ! 

If  one  of  them  perceived  that  the  other  was  advancing 
too  rapidly,  he  snatched  from  his  mouth  the  half-chewed 
end  of  the  pudding  and  hastened  to  swallow  an  equal 
quantity,  not  losing  a  moment  in  apologizing  for  a  rude- 


372  A  DAINTY  DISH. 

ness  at  once  laughable  and  disgusting.  It  must  be  under- 
stood that  each  acted  towards  his  companion  in  exactly 
the  same  manner,  so  that  the  chances  were  equal.  Nor 
did  the  duel  terminate  until  the  two  companions  found 
themselves  "  nose  to  nose,"  with  their  teeth  closing  on 
the  last  mouthful.  Then  a  double  fisticuff,  followed  by 
an  instantaneous  shock,  settled  the  difficulty,  and  com- 
pleted this  buffoonish  interlude* 

The  meat  was  cooked  to  a  turn,  and  our  master-cook, 
the  Canadian  Duquesne,  served  us  up  a  bison's  hump, 
artistically  prepared,  and  full  of  succulent  juices.  After 
we  had  removed  the  carbonized  envelope  which  covered 
this  ^'  morsel  for  a  king,"  our  knives  and  forks  plunged 
into  the  beautifully  streaked  flesh,  which  in  flavour  re- 
sembled a  kid  or  a  hare.  The  plump  and  juicy  flesh  of 
the  bison  is  easily  digested  j  but,  whether  the  digestive 
organs  of  the  prairie-hunter  resemble  those  of  the  ostrich, 
or  the  pure  and  revivifying  air  of  the  wilderness  assists 
in  the  ready  digestion  of  all  kinds  of  food,  I  know  not ; 
but  this  I  can  state  as  an  indubitable  fact,  that  you  can 
swallow  enormous  pieces  of  meat  without  any  dread  of 
the  disagreeable  consequences  which  generally  attend 
upon  too  keen  an  appetite.  As  for  the  bison's  hump, — 
a  dish  unknown  to  Griniod  de  la  Reyniere  and  Brillat- 
Savarin, — I  declare  and  assert  that  if  these  distinguished 
gastronomes  had  ever  had  at  their  disposal  an  entire 
bison,  full  of  fat,  well-nourished,  and  in  every  respect 
resembling  the  animal  immolated  upon  Eahm-o-j-or's  tenth 
arrow,  they  would  have  added  to  their  unparalleled  re- 
cipes another  chapter,  whose  text  would  have  eclipsed 
everything  which  has  secured  their  immortality  as  culinary 
artistes. 


373 

In  the  evening,  when  the  banquet  was  at  an  end,  and 
the  "  fire-water  "  with  which  the  flesh  of  the  bisons  had 
been  bedewed  had  stimulated  the  brains  and  dispelled 
the  apathy  inherent  to  an  Indian\s  disposition,  a  new 
spectacle  was  presented  to  our  astonished  eyes  :  fires  were 
lighted  at  numerous  points  along  the  mountain-ridge,  and 
before  each  blazing  pile,  men  and  women,  naked,  and 
shining  as  if  they  had  been  dipped  in  a  bath  of  oil,  sur- 
rendered themselves  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  most  fantas- 
tic gambols,  and  of  indescribable  contortions,  recalling  the 


THE    ENJOYMENT    OF    THE    MOST    FANTASTIC    GAMBOLS." 

plantation-dances  of  the  Louisiana  negroes.  No  instru- 
ment encouraged  these  athletes  in  their  wild  measures ; 
but  a  few  hoarse  voices  chanted  an  accented  melody,  which 
served  as  an  accompaniment  to  the  variations  modulated 
ad  infinitum  and  ad  libitum  by  one  or  other  of  the  cory- 
phees. A  single  guitar  resounded  in  front  of  our  tent, 
and  however  unskilfully  its  chords  were  strummed,  it 
did  not  the  less  produce  on  the  ears  of  the  Sioux  all  the 


374  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  BISON. 

impression  of  a  celestial  harmony.  I  will  relate  the  his- 
tory of  this  instrument  before  I  close  my  book ;  but,  first, 
let  us  return  to  our  bisons. 

I  do  not  think  there  would  be  any  utility  in  describing 
to  my  readers  the  form,  and  size,  and  habits  of  this  genus 
of  the  bovine  race.  Buffon,  and  above  all,  Audubon,  have 
traced  with  a  master's  hand  a  complete  picture  of  its 
characteristics. 

I  shall  limit  myself,  therefore,  to  a  record  of  the  promi- 
nent features  and  peculiarities  which  ought  to  be  known 
to  every  hunter.  No  other  animated  creature  is  so  tena- 
cious of  life  as  the  bison ;  unless  he  be  hit  through  the 
lungs,  or  his  spinal  bone  should  be  broken,  he  almost 
invariably  escapes  the  hunter's  pursuit.  Very  often,  even 
when  mortally  wounded  in  the  heart,  the  animal  possesses 
sufficient  vital  force  to  continue  his  flight  for  a  consider- 
able distance ;  and  he  always  makes  this  supreme  effort  if 
he  sees  the  hunter  following  up  his  track. 

If,  on  the  contrary,  the  hunter  halts,  and  conceals  him- 
self from  the  sight  of  the  game,  the  latter  ceases  to  run, 
and  soon  falls  down  never  to  rise  again.  Horrible,  indeed, 
are  the  last  convulsions  of  a  dying  bison ;  the  noble  beast 
appears  to  understand  that  he  ought  not  to  touch  the 
ground,  for  that  if  he  does  all  hope  is  lost.  One  of  these 
bisons,  wounded  in  the  lungs  or  heart,  spouting  blood 
through  mouth  and  nostrils,  his  eyes  already  dim  with 
the  shadows  of  agony,  sets  wide  his  legs  the  better  to 
support  his  tottering  bulk ;  even  to  his  last  breath  he 
resists  the  inevitable  death,  and  defies  it  courageously, 
making  the  air  resound  with  terrible  roars.  He  makes  a 
final  efibrt  to  hold  himself  erect ;  his  body  rolls  to  and 


HOW  AND  WHERE  TO  AIM.  375 

fro  like  a  ship  swaying  on  the  waves,  his  head  turns  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  his  eyes  still  seek  the  cursed 
enemy  which  has  reduced  to  power lessness  a  form  so 
robust  and  so  vivacious.  The  movements  of  the  animal 
become  more  abrupt  as  death  draws  nearer;  drops  of 
blood  escape  from  his  nostrils ;  he  stands  stiffly  on  his 
fore-feet  j  his  whole  bulk  trembles  with  a  convulsive 
movement ;  and  collecting  all  his  strength  for  one  awful 
roar,  he  sinks  upon  his  side,  rigid  as  a  corpse  from  which 
life  has  long  escaped. 

The  first  time  that  a  novice,  however  skilled  he  may 
be  as  a  hunter,  attempts  to  kill  a  bison,  despite  his  suc- 
cess in  bringing  down  a  kid  or  a  goat,  he  invariably 
misses  his  aim. 

Seeing  before  him  an  enormous  mass,  Rve  feet  in  length 
from  the  summit  of  the  hump  to  the  root  of  the  tail,  he 
thinks  he  ought  to  plant  a  bullet  right  in  the  centre  of 
the  giant's  body  to  reach  the  vital  parts.  But  this  is  a 
complete  mistake ;  to  slay  a  bison,  he  must  hit  between 
the  two  omoplates,  near  the  dorsal  vertebrae.  The  shot  is 
then  sure  to  be  fatal  j  the  animal  will  have  lived. 

During  the  two  months  which  I  spent  with  my  friends 
in  the  camp  of  Rahm-o-j-or  and  the  Sioux,  I  did  not  kill, 
for  my  own  share,  more  than  two  bisons.  The  first  had 
received  the  bullet  right  in  his  chest ;  the  wound,  travers- 
ing the  heart,  was  wide  enough  to  admit  of  the  entrance 
of  the  fore-finger;  and  yet  the  animal  had  sufficient 
strength  to  run  upwards  of  two  thousand  yards  from  the 
place  where  I  had  fired  at  him.  The  second  received  a 
couple  of  balls;  one  broke  his  fore-leg,   and  the  other 


376  THE  ENEMIES  OF  THE  BISON. 

entered  his  hmgs  ;  and  yet,  despite  of  this  double  wound, 
he  was  not  overtaken  until  after  a  desperate  course  of 
fifteen  minutes'  duration.  I  have  seen  an  old  bison  hit 
with  eighteen  shots  at  ten  paces,  yet  rush  headlong  for- 
ward, and  not  drop  until  he  had  got  a  mile  from  the  place 
where  he  had  been  wounded,  succumbing  only  to  a  bullet 
which  had  broken  his  frontal  bone.  If  Mr.  Mead,  one  of 
our  best  riflemen,  had  not  been  the  cause  of  his  death, 
the  bison  might,  perhaps,  have  served  to  feed  one  of  the 
large  eagles  so  numerous  in  the  United  States. 

I  ought  to  add  that  the  bison's  head  is  covered  with 
hair  so  thick  and  matted,  that  it  is  with  difficulty  a  ball 
can  penetrate  to  the  brain,  unless,  indeed,  it  is  fired  within 
ten  or  twelve  feet  of  the  animal.  This  I  have  experienced 
a  score  of  times,  and  my  bullet  has  fallen  back  flattened, 
as  if  it  had  struck  the  broadside  of  an  iron-plated  man-of- 
war. 

Spite  of  the  immense  destruction  which  the  Indian 
pioneers  and  trappers  effect  among  the  innumerable  herds 
animating  the  monotonous  landscape  of  the  prairies,  many 
years  will  glide  by  before  the  race  disappears  from  the 
American  continent,  and  becomes  as  rare  as  that  of  the 
urus  is  in  Europe, — which  nowadays  is  met  with  only 
in  the  great  forest  of  Bielowitz. 

Spite  of  the  many  enemies  who  seem  to  conspire 
for  their  destruction,  the  bisons,  I  say,  still  pasture  in 
thousands  upon  the  plains  and  ridges  of  the  green  Far 
West. 

However,  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  the  American 
Government  would  find  some  means  of  preventing  the 
disappearance  of  these  noble  quadrupeds,  which  are  so 
great  an  ornament  of  the  rolling  prairies,  and  so  valuable 


THE  CEMETERY  OF  THE  BUFFALOES.        377 

a  source  of  supply  to  the  caravans  that  venture  into  their 
depths  en  route  for  Santa  Fe  or  California.''^  My  readers 
will  form  some  idea  of  the  numbers  killed,  when  I  inform 
them  that  every  year,  in  Canada  and  the  United  States, 
upwards,  of  nine  hundred  thousand  hides  are  sold ;  yet 
these  hides  are  all  female,  the  hide  of  the  male  being  too 
thick,  and  not  easily  tanned. 

The  Indians,  whose  revenue  wholly  consists  of  the  pro- 
ceeds obtained  from  the  sale  of  these  hides,  preserve, 
moreover,  a  certain  quantity  for  their  own  use,  which 
they  employ  in  their  tents,  beds,  canoes,  and  domestic 
utensils.  I  ought  to  add,  in  concluding  the  statistics 
of  this  systematic  destruction,  that  the  caravans  which 
cross  the  prairies  seem  to  find  a  pleasure  in  strewing  their 
route  with  the  carcasses  of  bisons.  Finally,  it  is  the 
mission  of  eagles  of  all  sizes,  of  the  bustards  and  the 
vultures,  to  whiten  the  skeletons  of  the  bovine  race,  which 
in  certain  passes  westward  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  are 
so  numerous,  that  the  region  has  been  appropriately  called 
the  "  cemetery  of  the  bufialoes." 

On  reading  the  foregoing  remarks,  my  readers,  perhaps, 
will  shake  their  heads  incredulously.  I  would  not  wish 
to  leave  a  doubt  on  their  minds  in  reference  to  the  exact 
truthfulness  of  my  narrative,  and  before  terminating  this 
chapter,  will  copy  here,  in  confirmation  of  what  I  have 
advanced,  the  following  paragraph  from  a  letter  addressed 
by  the  late  Governor  Stevens,  one  of  the  boldest  explorers 
of  the  American  prairies,  to  the  editor  of  the  New  Orleans 
Daily  Picayune : — 

*  The  completion  of  the  Pacific  Railway  has  rendered  these  caravans  an 
affair  of  the  past. 


378  THE  governor's  narrative. 


GOVERNOR  Stevens's  letter. 


At  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  May  8,  1859. 

"  Yesterday,  after  a  ten  miles'  marcli,  we  overtook  the 
bisons.  The  herd  extended  in  front  and  on  each  side  of 
us  as  far  as  our  gaze  could  reach. 

"  Our  more  enthusiastic  companions  estimated  their 
number  at  five  hundred  thousand,  and  the  more  moderate 
among  us  brought  down  the  figure  to  less  than  two  hun- 
dred thousand. 

"  At  noon,  when  we  made  our  customary  halt,  we  per- 
ceived that  an  immense  quantity  had  drawn  near  our 
encampment.  Immediately,  our  six  hunters,  mounted 
on  fresh  horses,  reserved  especially  for  this  purpose, 
dashed  in  advance,  and  the  whole  company  were  able  to 
enjoy  the  stirring  spectacle  of  a  bison-hunt. 

^^The  hunters  galloped  at  their  utmost  speed,  pene- 
trated into  the  densest  ranks  of  the  savage  quadrupeds, 
and  quickly  disappeared,  enveloped  in  an  immense  whirl- 
wind of  dust.  Meanwhile,  the  column  of  bisons  was  greatly 
agitated,  and  rushed  forward,  uttering  the  most  formidable 
roars  ;  to  see  their  heads  pressed  one  against  another,  you 
would  have  said  it  was  a  rolling  sea.  The  hunters  darted 
hither  and  thither,  selecting  the  fattest  cows,  separating 
them  from  the  rest  of  the  herd,  and  then  bringing  them 
down  without  difficulty.  When  the  fight  was  at  an  end, 
our  waggons  immediately  advanced  to  the  scene  of  carnage, 
and  returned  loaded  with  choice  "joints"  of  bison. 

"  The  two  following  days,  in  order  to  keep  the  road 
clear,  we  were  compelled  to  send  forward  our  hunters  to 
beat  up  the  ^  coverside.'  But  no  sooner  was  the  herd 
dispersed,  than  it  re-formed  in  our  rear,  and  even  mingled 


LIFE  IN  THE  PRAIRIE.  379 

with  our  reserve  horses  and  transport  mules.  Spite  of  all 
our  precautions,  in  the  utter  impossibility  of  leading  each 
of  our  beasts  by  the  bridle,  five  of  them  disappeared 
among  the  mass  of  savage  animals.  In  order  to  recover 
them,  we  ventured  into  the  very  midst  of  the  forest  of 
horns,  but  in  vain ;  we  had  to  resume  our  journey,  and 
abandon  the  deserters  to  the  nomadic  life  of  the  prairies." 

I  resume  my  personal  narrative. 

Life  in  the  rolling  prairies  passes  day  by  day  in  a 
uniform  manner;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  its  monotony, 
for  a  genuine  lover  of  the  hunt  it  has  so  irresistible  a 
charm  and  an  attraction,  that  at  the  very  moment  of  my 
writing  these  lines — seated  before  my  desk,  surrounded 
by  all  the  comforts  of  civilization — I  would  quit  Europe 
without  regret  to  plunge  once  more  into  the  verdurous 
waves  of  the  American  Sahara,  in  pursuit  of  the  bison, 
the  stag,  and  the  antelope,  though  on  my  return  from 
this  new  Odyssey,  instead  of  an  exquisite  repast  after 
Ude  or  Careme,  I  should  find  but  a  simple  salad,  washed 
down  with  a  glass  of  eau-de-vie. 

During  my  ten  years'  residence  in  the  United  States,  I 
frequently  met  with  trappers  who  had  formerly  enjoyed 
all  the  delights  of  civilized  life,  and  who,  by  some  accident, 
having  fallen  into  the  midst  of  a  wandering  tribe,  had 
eventually  become  so  thoroughly  accustomed  to  the  man- 
ners, pleasures,  vicissitudes,  and  excitement  of  the  desert- 
life,  that  they  would  not  have  surrendered  their  bed  of 
rushes,  with  its  precarious  shelter  of  a  slight  canvas  tent, 
for  the  most  luxurious  couch  that  was  ever  spread  beneath 
a  palace  roof.  You  must  yourself  have  experienced  this 
strange  kind  of  intoxication  in  order  to  understand  it. 


380  A  GOOD  GUN. 

The  length  of  this  chapter  prevents  me  from  recording 
in  detail  the  numerous  hunts  which  my  friends  and  I 
enjoyed  under  the  orders  of  Rahm-o-j-or,  and  in  company 
with  his  copper-coloured  subjects.  If  I  were  to  put  down 
here  the  exact  number  of  the  bisons  killed  during  our 
sojourn  with  our  hosts  the  Redskins,  no  one  would  be- 
lieve me,  and  I  am  desirous  to  avoid  even  the  suspicion 
of  gasconading. 

In  1841,  on  the  eve  of  my  departure  for  the  United 
States,  I  had  purchased  a  first-rate  musket  at  Saint 
Etienne,  for  a  very  moderate  price  compared  with  the  un- 
doubted excellence  of  the  weapon.  This  double-barrel 
had  accompanied  me  in  all  my  ''  cygenetic"  excursions,  and 
I  declare  that  it  seemed  to  me  superior  even  to  the  rifled 
carbines  which  my  hunting  companions  made  use  of. 
Its  accuracy  and  precision  did  not  escape  the  sagacious 
eye  of  Rahm-o-j-or,  and  I  had  remarked  that  on  different 
occasions  he  cast  stealthy  glances  at  it,  like  those  of  a 
lover  at  the  woman  he  loves.  One  morning,  shortly  be- 
fore the  epoch  fixed  by  my  friends  and  myself  for  our 
return  to  Saint  Louis,  the  Indian  chief  resolutely  came 
up  to  me,  and  in  his  expressive  language  said  :— 

^'  My  white  brother  possesses  a  good  gun ;  instead  of 
carrying  it  away  with  him,  he  ought  to  leave  it  to  his 
good  friend  Rahm-o-j-or,  who,  on  account  of  his  rank  as 
chief,  should  have  a  finer  weapon  than  any  of  his  sub- 
iects." 

'^  I  would  do  so  willingly,"  I  replied,  ^^  if  I  were  not 
particularly  attached  to  this  gun,  which  has  long  been  my 
friend  and  companion,  and  whose  faithfulness  I  have  so 
often  tested." 


HOW  TO  MAKE  AN  EXCHANGE.  381 

"  Pale-face,"  said  the  chief,  ^'  I  will  give  you  in  ex- 
change some  splendid  furs  which  shall  be  worth  a  dozen 
guns." 

To  a  proposal  so  direct  as  this  I  listened  more  willingly, 
because  it  left  me  still  the  alternative  of  a  refusal ;  and  I 
told  Eahm-o-j-or  I  would  decide  when  I  had  seen  the  furs 
he  proposed  to  barter  with  me. 

"  Come,"  said  he,  '^  I  will  show  you  my  store,  and  you 
shall  take  what  you  will." 

I  followed  the  Sioux  chief  to  his  tent,  and  there,  to  my 
great  astonishment,  on  removing  a  partition  in  his  frail 
wigwam,  he  showed  me  an  enormous  stock  of  superb 
peltry — the  skins  of  martens,  gray  and  blue  foxes,  ermines, 
musk-rats,  and  other  animals — enough  to  have  supplied 
the  stores  of  a  fur-dealer  for  a  very  considerable  period. 

"  I  am  one  of  the  principal  purveyors,"  he  said,  "  of 
the  North  American  Fur  Company,  and  before  you  lies 
the  product  of  my  hunting  expeditions  during  the  last 
four  months.  In  a  couple  of  weeks  or  so  the  company^s 
agent  will  come  here  and  purchase  all  you  see.  Choose 
the  first — choose  freely — and  take  as  many  skins  as  you 
think  a  fair  equivalent  for  your  gun." 

At  this  solemn  moment  I  remembered  that  I  had  in 
France  a  mother,  some  cousins,  some  aunts,  some  lady 
friends,  and  I  confess  I  drew  largely  on  the  liberty  which 
Rahm-o-j-or  accorded  to  me.  Without  hesitation,  I  put 
my  hand  on  twenty  assorted  martens'  skins,  fifty  spotless 
and  snow-white  ermines',  twenty  blue  foxes',  six  black 
bears',  and  eight  bisons'  skins. 

While  making  my  selection,  I  watched  the  Sioux  from 


382  THE  pale-face's  acquisitions. 

the  corner  of  my  eye  :  he  preserved  the  most  impassable 
indifference.  At  length  I  stopped,  and  I  said,  in  as 
serious  a  tone  as  the  circumstances  demanded, — 

"  See  for  thyself  if  my  hand  has  been  indiscreet,  and 
tell  me  if  the  barter  be  agreeable  to  thee  ^ " 

"  What  the  Pale-face  has  chosen,  I  am  ready  to  give 
him ;  let  him  shake  hands,  and  the  business  will  be  con- 
cluded." 

As  the  reader  will  suppose,  I  hastened  to  grasp  Rahm- 
o-j-or's  swarthy  right  hand.  Then  I  summoned  Duquesne, 
our  Canadian,  who,  with  unparalleled  skill,  assisted  me  in 
making  a  bundle  of  these  unhoped-for  riches,  and  tran- 
sported it  to  one  of  our  waggons,  protected  from  rain  and 
sun ;  for  I  took  care  to  wrap  the  whole  very  thoroughly 
in  an  old  piece  of  stout  sailcloth,  on  one  side  of  which  I 
wrote,  with  an  ink  made  of  pounded  charcoal  and  grease, 
'^  Benedict  Henry  Revoil,  New  York." 

Such  was  the  fate  of  my  trusty  gun,  which  to  this 
hour  is,  I  hope,  in  its  master's  hands. 

Before  relating  to  the  reader  the  circumstances  under 
which  we  took  leave  of  our  hosts,  and  returned  within 
the  confines  of  civilization,  I  have  not  forgotten  that  I 
owe  to  them  the  history  of  my  guitar,  and  I  am  about  to 
fulfil  my  promise. 

One  of  my  uncles,  who  had  departed  this  life  shortly 
before  I  left  Europe,  had  given  me  a  guitar  of  citron-wood  ; 
but  I  must  own  that,  in  spite  of  all  my  application,  I  had 
scarcely  succeeded  in  obtaining  any  further  service  from 
this  instrument  than  that  of  an  accompaniment  to  a 
romance  or  song.  The  evening  before  my  depai^ture  from 
New  York,  Daniel  Simonton,  who  had  undertaken  all  the 


**  STRIKE  THE  LIGHT  GUITAR."  383 

preparations  for  my  journey,  perceived  my  guitar  sus- 
pended in  a  comer  of  the  room,  and  strongly  pressed  me 
to  pack  it  up  with  the  rest  of  my  baggage. 

^'  What  on  earth,"  said  I,  "  shall  I  do  with  a  tin  kettle 
like  that?  Do  men  hunt  the  bison  to  the  strumming  of 
a  guitar  1  Shall  I,  like  a  new  Orpheus,  charm  the  birds 
and  animals  with  the  lugubrious  notes  of  this  hollow  box 
and  its  six  strings  1  In  a  word,  is  this  a  novel  hunting 
weapon,  unknown  till  now,  and  patented  by  yourself?" 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Mr.  Simonton  ;  "  you  know 
very  well  I  cannot  '  strike  the  light  guitar ; '  but  I  rely 
on  your  skill  and  science  to  perform  the  miracle  of  at- 
tracting to  our  side — not  beasts,  but  men  ! " 

"  Explain  yourself." 

'^  By-and-by  you  will  find  out  what  I  mean." 

And  spite  of  my  reiterated  questions,  my  comrade  would 
not  add  another  word ;  he  left  me  in  a  state  of  complete 
ignorance  as  to  his  meaning. 

Thus  it  was  that  I  brought  into  the  camp  of  the  Sioux 
my  guitar,  lying  forgotten  in  one  of  our  waggons,  at  the 
bottom  of  its  fir- wood  case.  On  the  second  evening  of  our 
sojourn  with  Bahm-o-j-or,  Mr.  Simonton,  however,  sud- 
denly bethought  himself  of  the  treasure.  We  had  just 
finished  supper  :  each  guest,  seated  before  a  blazing  fire, 
was  smoking  his  pipe  in  the  most  profound  silence,  when 
a  voice,  addressing  Gemmel,  one  of  our  three  Canadians, 
ordered  him  to  go  in  search  of  the  black  box. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  our  servant ;  and,  darting  from  the 
circle,  he  soon  returned  with  the  guitar  and  its  case. 

Mr.  Simonton,  with  the  characteristic  quickness  of 
Americans,  opened  the  lock,  stripped  the  instrument  of 
its  many  coverings,  and  revealed  it  to  the  gaze  of  the 


384 


THE  MUSICIAN  S  PRELUDE. 


surrounding  Redskins,    who    followed    every   movement 
with  the  curiosity  of  a  child. 

"  Now,  my  dear  friend,"  said  he,  addressing  me,  "  now 
is  the  time  to  display  your  talents.  The  audience  before 
you  will  infallibly  be  astonished  and  delighted.  Play 
your  best,  and  I  guarantee  you  will  excite  an  enthusiasm 
of  which  the  well-bred  salons  of  London  or  Paris  would 
be  incapable." 


I   PRELUDED    A    FEW    NOTES. 


These  words,  uttered  in  French,  were  understood  by 
myself  alone.  I  preluded  a  few  notes,  examining  most 
attentively  the  expression  of  countenance  of  each  of  m^^ 
hearers.  The  very  first  sounds  produced  a  magical  effect ; 
the   Indians    listened,   with    glittering   eyes,   and    necks 


"  MUSIC  HATH  CHARMS."  385 

stretched  forward ;  men  and  women  crowded  round  me, 
while  observing  the  utmost  silence. 

I  say  it  without  blushing,  I  felt  completely  moved, 
and  I  do  not  think  that  any  debutant,  appearing  for  the 
first  time  on  the  stage  of  one  of  the  great  European 
theatres,  ever  trembled  more  nervously  before  a  fashion- 
able public  than  did  I  in  the  presence  of  these  men  of  the 
wood,  these  men  of  rude  and  uncultivated  intellect,  these 
men  of  primitive  and  savage  habits. 

Soon,  overcoming  all  timidity,  my  fingers  became  more 
nimble,  and  my  harmonies  more  exact.  The  melody 
flowed  as  if  by  enchantment,  and  the  cadence  was  marked 
by  more  than  two  hundred  heads  bending  to  and  fro  in  a 
very  picturesque  manner.  I  ceased  not  to  play  until  I 
had  exhausted  my  repertory  :  Meyerbeer,  Auber,  Halevy, 
Carafia,  Bellini,  Donizetti,  and  the  immortal  Rossini  had 
alternately  inspired  me;  and  never  did  the  most  brilliant 
performer  receive  more  enthusiastic  applause  than  the 
whoo  whoos  lavished  upon  me  by  the  Sioux,  ravished  by 
this  unexpected  improvisation. 

Among  these  bronzed  figures,  whose  brick-red  colour 
so  strangely  contrasted  with  the  paleness  of  my  comrades 
and  myself,  I  had  remarked  a  young  girl,  of  slender  form, 
with  tiny  feet,  and  black  eyes  sparkling  like  diamonds, 
who,  at  the  first  chords  of  my  guitar,  had  made  her  way 
through  the  crowd,  placed  herself  by  my  side,  and  with 
her  face  resting  on  her  two  delicate  little  hands,  never 
turned  her  gaze  from  the  movements  of  my  fingers  upon 
the  resounding  strings. 

As  soon  as  my  performance  terminated,  I  received  the 
compliments  of  Rahm-o-j-or  and  all  the  Sioux,  who 
wished,  each  in  his  turn,  to  touch  the  guitar,  and  discover 
(414)  25 


386  AN  INDIAN  PUPIL. 

the  supposed  secret  of  the  melodious  strains  that  had 
filled  them  with  so  much  pleasure. 

After  it  had  gone  round  the  entire  circle,  the  magic 
instrument  was  returned  to  me,  and  Otami-ah,  the  squaw, 
begged  me,  in  the  most  graceful  pantomime,  to  hand  it  to 
her  for  a  moment.  Her  tiny  fingers  immediately  en- 
deavoured to  imitate  my  manipulation  of  the  strings.  For 
a  long  time  she  tried  to  strike  a  chord,  but  in  vain.  I 
studied  with  curiosity  the  beautiful  Kedskin's  signs  of 
childish  anger;  but  in  the  midst  of  my  attentive  examina- 
tion the  hour  of  repose  sounded  for  the  whole  tribe.  We 
all  withdrew  to  our  tents,  and  Gemmel  brought  to  me  the 
black  case,  which  I  took  care  to  lock  securely. 

Next  day  we  were  kept  in  camp  by  the  rain ;  it  was 
impossible  even  to  dream  of  a  hunting  excursion.  I  was 
stretched  under  the  canvas  of  one  of  the  waggons,  when 
Otami-ah,  preceded  by  Rahm-o-j-or  and  Duquesne,  our 
interpreter,  glided  towards  me ;  she  came  with  a  petition 
that  I  would  teach  her  to  play  the  guitar.  Though  I  did 
not  feel  myself  specially  qualified  to  give  lessons  to  the 
young  Indian  belle, — for  I  knew  music  only,  as  it  were, 
by  instinct, — I  complied  with  her  request.  The  lesson 
began,  and  was  prolonged  to  a  late  hour.  Every  evening, 
so  long  as  I  remained  with  the  Sioux,  Otami-ah  and  I 
took  refuge  behind  a  clump  of  cotton-trees,  far  from  the 
intrusive  and  importunate,  and  I  found  it  a  pleasure  to 
pour  into  her  ear  the  instructions  to  which  she  listened 
with  so  much  intelligence  and  avidity.  Before  a  fortnight 
had  passed  by,  the  scholar  knew  as  much  as  the  master, 
and  her  fingers  had  acquired  a  graceful  dexterity  which 
would  have  astonished  Carulli  himself. 


THE  MILITARY  TROPHY.  387 

When  the  day  of  departure  arrived,  and  my  friends  and 
myself  had  decided  that  we  must  return  to  our  several 
homes,  whither  the  demands  of  business  urgently  sum- 
moned us, — some  being  due  at  Saint  Louis,  others,  among 
whom  I  was  included,  being  called  to  New  York, — I  may 
say,  without  boasting,  that  our  guests  gave  utterance  to 
the  most  pathetic  expressions  of  regret  at  bidding  us  fare- 
well, and  endeavoured  to  detain  us  by  every  inducement 
they  could  think  of. 

On  the  morning  of  our  departure,  Otami-ah  called  upon 
me,  and  begged  me,  as  an  extreme  favour,  to  exchange  my 
guitar  for  the  complete  dress  of  a  Sioux  warrior,  which 
she  had  embroidered  and  embellished  with  her  own  hands, 
intending  it  for  her  betrothed. 

Even  before  I  received  the  visit  of  this  charming  squaw, 
I  had  thought  of  leaving  her  an  instrument  which  T 
looked  upon  as  of  little  use  to  myself;  so,  after  making 
her  understand  that  her  intention  had  anticipated  my 
desire  of  being  agreeable  to  her,  I  could  not  resist  the 
pleasure  of  accepting,  as  a  souvenir,  the  magnificent  cos- 
tume she  laid  at  my  feet.  Not  a  detail  was  lacking  to 
this  superb  military  trophy ;  the  material  was  deer-skin, 
rendered  impermeable  by  processes  of  which  the  Kedskins 
alone  know  the  secret,  and  ornamented  with  an  incalcul- 
able number  of  embroideries  made  of  porcupine-quills, 
tinted  with  many  colours.  The  fringed  tunic — the  leg- 
gings—the moccasins — the  belt — the  head-dress  adorned 
with  magnificent  red  feathers,  yfellow  feathers,  black 
feathers,  and  green  feathers — the  calumet — the  pouch- for 
powder  and  ball — the  round  furred  gloves, — all  lay  before 
me,  and  so  exactly  suited  to  my  size  and  figure,  that, 


388  HOMEWARD  BOUND. 

when  I  had  endued  myself  in  the  complete  costume  of  a 
Sioux  "  on  the  war-path,"  my  toilet  wanted  but  the  coat 
of  red  ochre  with  which  the  Kedskins  cover  the  face  to 
render  themselves  more  terrible  to  their  enemies. 

The  exchange  having  been  duly  made,  Otami-ah,  de- 
lighted with  her  bargain,  offered  me  her  cheeks  to  kiss,  as 
if  in  acknowledgment  of  the  generosity  I  had  exhibited ! 
Yet,  assuredly,  Revoil,  and  not  Otami-ah,  had,  in  one 
sense,  the  better  of  the  bargain. 

A  few  hours  afterwards  we  mounted  our  steeds,  and 
took  the  road  to  Independence.  Fifty  Sioux  rode  with 
us  as  an  escort  to  Fort  Leavenworth — that  is,  to  the  first 
habitation  erected  on  the  confines  of  the  great  wilderness. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  our  adieux  were  very  impres- 
sive. Kahm-o-j-or  clasped  us  cordially  by  the  hand ;  and 
Otami-ah  joined  her  good  wishes  to  his,  that  we  might 
enjoy  a  prosperous  journey  to  the  land  of  the  Pale-faces. 
Farewell,  Otami-ah  !  In  giving  thee  lessons  in  music,  I 
had  likewise  given  thee  a  portion  of  my  heart. 

On  the  first  day  of  our  journey,  it  rained  from  morning 
to  evening ;  next  day,  the  weather  was  not  more  favour- 
able ;  but  on  the  third  day  it  proved  very  beautiful.  As 
a  hunter  I  shall  long  remember  the  date,  for  I  was  a  wit- 
ness of,  and  an  actor  in,  a  splendid  hunting  episode. 

We  had  just  entered  into  a  gorge  thickly  encumbered 
with  bushes,  when  Duquesne,  whose  horse  was  trotting 
by  the  side  of  mine,  stopping  suddenly,  compelled  us  both 
to  come  to  a  halt.  Duquesne  immediately  dismounted, 
and  placed  his  ear  to  the  ground  to  listen.  After  a  few 
seconds,  he  advised  us  to  imitate  him  ;  and  complying  with 
his  request,  we  threw  ourselves  on  our  stomachs,  lending 


AN  ATTACK  OF  BISONS.  389 

an  attentive  ear,  but  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  our 
hearing  was  defective.  Thrice  we  repeated  the  manoeuvre ; 
the  fourth  time  we  detected  a  weak  and  insignificant 
sound,  which  gradually  became  more  distinct,  and  from 
moment  to  moment  increased  in  volume. 

To  shelter  our  steeds  behind  a  leafy  copse,  and  to  place 
in  the  same  covert  our  three  waggons,  was  the  affair  of  a 
few  minutes ;  then,  gliding  through  an  almost  impervious 
bush,  we  crept  out  on  the  opposite  side.  Each  of  us,  still 
hidden  by  the  verdure,  waited  in  silence  for  the  moment 
when  the  animals  we  heard  approaching  should  come 
within  range  of  our  guns. 

What  were  they  1  Stags,  cayeutes,  antelopes,  or  bisons? 
No  one  could  say.  The  forked  branch  of  a  cotton-tree 
drooping  before  me,  I  rested  upon  it  a  carbine  which  I  had 
borrowed  from  Mr.  Mead's  arsenal,  and,  with  palpitating 
heart,  waited  for  the  moment  to  loose  the  trigger. 

Suddenly,  in  the  empty  space  between  the  bushes  which 
stood  in  front  of  us,  a  score  of  bisons  made  their  appear- 
ance, madly  dashing  in  our  direction.  Such  was  the  im- 
petuosity of  these  animals,  that  we  could  hear  them 
snapping  through  every  branch  which  obstructed  their 
course.  Unfortunately,  all  were  at  such  great  distances 
that  it  was  impossible  to  aim  with  any  chance  of  success. 

Already  I  had  begun  to  fear  that  the  whole  herd  would 
escape  us,  when,  at  fifteen  paces  in  front  of  me,  I  saw  a 
magnificent  bison,  dragging  along  one  of  his  legs  with 
great  difficulty.  I  waited,  while  sighting  my  gun,  until 
he  had  approached  much  nearer,  when  a  splendid  panther 
bounded  into  the  arena  in  evident  pursuit  of  the  bison. 
I  do  not  know  a  more  graceful  animal  than  this  member 
of  the  New  World  Felidce  ;  with  her  head  erect,  and  her 


390 


PANTHER  AND  BISON, 


eyes  shining,  she  sprang  forward,  roaring  loudly,  at  each 
leap  drawing  closer  to  the  bison,  which  endeavoured  to 
limp  out  of  so  dangerous  a  neighbourhood.  How  admir- 
able a  spectacle  for  us  hunters  was  presented  by  these  two 
noble  heads,  whose  life  was  almost  in  our  hands,  and,  at 
all  events,  depended  entirely  upon  our  skill !  I  was 
about  to  fire  upon  the  panther,  when  the  carnivorous 
animal  made  a  prodigious  spring,  and  jumped  upon  the 


HE   MADE   A   PRODIGIOUS   SPUING   UPON   THE   BISON's   BACK. 


bison's  back.  Both  rolled  to  the  ground,  the  bison  hugged 
in  so  tight  an  embrace  that  he  could  not  release  himself 
from  his  enemy's  claws.  The  panther  licked  her  blood- 
stained lips,  and  drew  tighter  and  tighter  the  living  coil 
which  paralyzed  the  bison's  strength.  At  length  the 
latter  let  his  head  fall  back  heavily  on  the  ground,  his 
limbs  grew  stiff,  and  he  remained  motionless. 


ON  BOARD  THE  STEAM-BOAT.  391 

Now  was  the  moment  to  fire ;  a  second's  delay,  and 
one  or  other  of  my  comrades  would  discharge  his  rifle 
under  my  very  nose.  Without  issuing  from  my  hiding- 
place,  just  as  the  panther  turned  her  head  in  my  direction 
I  took  aim,  and  fired.  Through  a  cloud  of  smoke  I  saw 
her  leap  several  feet,  and  fall  to  the  ground  in  convulsions 
which  showed  that  she  had  received  a  mortal  wound. 
Mr.  Mead,  with  one  of  his  barrels,  terminated  her  agonies 
and  her  frightful  howlings. 

She  was  the  finest  animal  I  had  ever  killed.  I  leave 
the  reader  to  imagine  with  how  much  pleasure  I  looked 
upon  her,  how  I  turned  her  over  and  over,  how  I  carefully 
removed  her  splendidly  spotted  hide.  The  latter  still  re- 
mains one  of  my  handsomest  hunting  trophies.  As  for 
the  bison,  he  was  dead;  he  had  perished  from  sufibcation, 
and  from  bleeding  at  the  jugular  vein. 

On  arriving  at  Saint  Louis,  I  took  leave  of  several  of 
my  trusty  comrades  ;  Messrs.  Delmot  and  Simonton  were 
the  only  persons  who  decided  on  reascending  the  Ohio 
with  me,  to  return  into  New  York  State  by  way  of  the 
Lakes  and  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  We  all  three  went  on 
board  the  steam-boat  Jefferson^  a  kind  of  floating  hotel, 
crowded  from  the  keel  to  the  upper  deck,  which  was  to 
carry  us  to  Cincinnati  in  a  couple  of  days. 

We  started  in  the  evening,  and  in  the  midst  of  that  in- 
describable hurry,  noise,  and  confusion  which  always  take 
place  when  an  American  steamer  gets  up  her  steam  and 
casts  ofi*  her  moorings.  I  had  intrusted  to  one  of  the 
negroes  on  board  the  care  of  all  my  baggage,  among  which 
were  the  two  precious  parcels  brought  from  Rahm-o-j-or's 
camp, — the  one  containing  the  furs  taken  in  exchange  for 


392  '^LEFT  NOT  A  RACK  BEHIND." 

my  gun,  and  the  other  the  Sioux  warrior-costume  pre- 
sented by  the  beautiful  Otami-ah. 

Now,  the  whole  had  been  carefully  collected  under  my 
personal  supervision,  and  a  chain  passed  between  the 
straps  and  cords  of  each  trunk,  box,  chest,  and  portman- 
teau ;  and  as  this,  at  the  other  end,  was  fastened  by  a 
padlock  closing  on  the  last  link,  I  thought  I  might  rest 
in  perfect  contentment.  Moreover,  was  not  my  negro  on 
the  watch,  to  obtain  his  reward  ? 

Fatal  confidence  !  foolish  security  !  I  reckoned  with- 
out the  artful  rogues  who  are  passengers  daily  on  board 
the  steam-boats  of  the  rivers  of  the  United  States.  I 
ought  to  have  reflected  more  on  the  wisdom  of  the  num- 
erous inscriptions  displayed  before  me  on  the  posts  and 
partitions  of  our  floating  hotel : — 


"  BEWARE  OF  THIEVES  AND  PICKPOCKETS." 


Next  morning,  after  breakfast,  I  had  the  curiosity  to 
go  and  examine  whether  during  the  night,  and  at  the 
various  halting-places  of  the  steamer,  my  luggage  had 
been  in  anyway  deranged  or  injured.  Alas,  I  discovered 
that  my  two  precious  parcels  were  missing  ! 

I  shouted,  and  I  stormed;  I  almost  wept ;  I  threatened 
the  stupid  clown  of  a  negro  that  I  would  fling  him  into 
prison,  since  he  was  legally  responsible  for  the  safety  of 
my  "goods  and  chattels;" — all  was  fruitless.  Whether 
through  some  inexplicable  accident  or  some  cunning  theft, 
I  lost — and,  as  it  proved,  for  ever — my  valuable  furs  and 
my  dazzling  "  costume  of  a  Kedskin  warrior  ! " 

Farewell  to  the  pleasure  I  had  hoped  to  enjoy  in  dis- 


CONCLUSION.  393 

tributing  my  riches  among  my  relations  and  friends  ! 
Alas  for  the  intense  desire  I  had  experienced  to  figure 
before  European  eyes  in  my  Sioux  bravery  !  I  was  com- 
pelled to  renounce  all  hope  of  this  innocent  gratification. 
Bon  gre,  mal  gre, — "  willy  nilly  "  (as  old  English  writers 
say), — I  was  compelled  to  resign  myself  philosophically  to 
my  fate,  and,  with  a  noble  mental  resolution,  I  resolved 
to  think  no  more  of  a  loss  which  could  not  be  repaired. 

And  thus,  of  my  residence  among  the  Kedskins,  and  of 
my  musical  lessons  to  the  Indian  beauty,  the  only  sou- 
venirs which  I,  at  this  hour,  retain,  are  a  bow  and  a  few 
arrows ;  a  pouch  for  powder  and  lead,  embroidered  with 
porcupine-quills ;  and  my  panther-skin.  Who  knows 
what  has  become  of  the  remainder  of  my  curiosities '? 
Whose  shoulders,  I  wonder,  are  decorated  with  my  pre- 
cious furs  ? 

Here  ends  the  narrative  of  my  excursions  as  a  hunter 
among  the  forests,  mountains,  and  prairies  of 

The  Far  West. 


j^  -.--^X^cr-r^"  ^^^"^^5^- 


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